Tuesday 13 June 2017

Solar Installation Oakland – Types of Solar and Uses

If you are looking to get solar installations Oakland services, we appreciate your concern. You will not be helping yourself but will also help save the environment from carbon emissions. Being solar panel installers, we take this initiative to answer some of the commonly questions asked about solar.

Solar panels Oakland

Solar installation Oakland
What are the various types of Solar Energy?

There are 5 types of solar energy. They are as follows.

1.  Active Solar Energy

It uses mechanical devices for collecting, storing and distributing solar energy. Example: water heating systems circulates water throughout the system in a closed loop.

Oakland solar
Active Solar Energy
2.  Passive Solar energy

It harnesses Sun’s energy without any mechanical devices. This is the common available source everywhere. Example: Sun rays passing through the windows offering natural heat and light. 

Solar installation Oakland
Passive Solar energy

3.  Solar Thermal Energy

It converts solar energy into heat. Example: Solar Air Heaters. Air collected in a container heats up using solar energy. It then blows the hot air offering heat to your living.

Solar installation Oakland
Solar Thermal Energy

4.  Photovoltaic Solar Power

It uses photovoltaic solar cells to convert solar energy into electricity. You find solar panels everywhere. They are the photovoltaic solar cells. Through solar installation Oakland services, we offer you these cells for homes and offices.

Solar panels Oakland
Photovoltaic Solar Power

5.  Concentrated Solar Power


It refers to solar energy produced in large scale. CSP (Concentrated Solar Power or Community Solar Power) offers solar when you are unable to install a panel. You have utility bills but they are way less and green in nature.

Solar panels Oakland
Concentrated Solar Power

How homeowners can use solar energy?

Solar Energy is the future. It will aid the best necessity for energy. There are 4 basic uses of solar energy. They are as follows.

1.  Solar Electricity

As we mentioned earlier, solar electricity comes from photovoltaic solar cells installed on roof or at places that receives direct sunlight. When these cells are connected with an inverter, you can use the energy for powering all electrical appliances.

Solar panels for homes Oakland
Solar Electricity
 2.  Solar Heating

Solar energy can not only be used for heating your home, but for heating your domestic water tank and swimming pools. All you need are solar collectors where the radiant energy from the sun is collected and converted to heat. These systems collect, store and distribute heat using active or passive solar energy methodologies.

Solar panels for homes Oakland
Solar Heating

3.  Solar Cooling

You can use three methods here.

Passive Cooling: Using natural ways to eliminate or cut of heat from the sun. Principles include the following.

•    Proper Orientation of your for minimizing sunlight hitting the room during hot summers.
•    Using structural elements for creating shades
•    Creating pathways for natural ventilation
•    Insulating the home for maintaining a comfortable temperature

Thermal Cooling

Here the following 2 process aids to the cooling process.

Solar Absorption Cooling: It uses solar heated water and acts as an air conditioner. This air conditioner uses a liquid consisting of a refrigerant and an absorbent. Solar heat separates the absorbent and the refrigerant. The cooling effect comes when the refrigerant is compressed and evaporated. This process goes on aiding in cooling.

Solar Desiccant Cooling: It uses a material called the desiccant. It cools by removing moisture in turn lowering the relative humidity.

Photovoltaic Cooling


This cooling is easy and uses the inverter connected to the photovoltaic cells. Power a normal AC to it and you are done.

Solar panels Oakland
Solar Cooling

4.  Solar Lighting


Natural solar light is everywhere. Daylight is the perfect example. But when it comes to using solar powered lights at night, you can not only increase outer décor but also cut down electricity bills. You don’t need to charge them or connect to the plug point of your room.

Place the light in your garden or the roof. In night turn it on and you are good to go. These lights too use photovoltaic cells.

In the end if you are looking for more info, stay tuned. Along with solar installation Oakland, CA, we are keen towards educating the masses about the benefits of using solar energy.