Sunset Air Blog: Archive for March, 2015

How Does a PV Panel Generate Electricity?

Friday, March 27th, 2015

Solar energy has become a great option for a lot of homeowners thanks to improved technology, rebates and more product availability. However, it’s still a little confusing for the average homeowner to understand how light from the sun can be converted into electricity. It’s obvious that the solar panels achieve this, but the question that remain is “how?” To help you understand better how photovoltaic (PV) solar panels work for your Aberdeen, WA, home, the solar experts from Sunset Air have put together an explanation below that should hopefully shed some light on things.

It All Starts with a Cell

A solar cell, that is. What is it? A solar cell is a relatively small component that has several layers to it: a glass protective cover with anti-reflective coating, a contact grid, a N-type (negative) silicon layer and then a P-type (positive) silicon layer. These all rest on the back contact layer. The N-type layer has free electrons and the P-type layer has holes. When sunlight hits the solar cell, the free electrons are knocked loose from the N-type layer and move into the open holes in the P-Type layer; this action, and the connection of the N and P-Type layers, creates an electrical current.

The Solar Panel

A solar panel, also known as a solar array or PV panel, is a large number of solar cells housed together on a single panel. The electricity generated by each solar cell flows together as the solar cells are all connected to each other by wiring, creating a great deal of electricity. The PV panels are integrated with your home’s electrical panel via wiring and supply the panel with a great deal of extra energy that can be used to power just about any system you want.

Work with Specialists

Solar energy can be great for a lot of properties, but it’s critical to hire trained experts for installation, repair and maintenance.

The experts at Sunset Air offer comprehensive solar services, so if you are considering adding PV panels to your Aberdeen, WA, home, call us today!

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Why Is a Home Energy Audit Important?

Friday, March 20th, 2015

Wouldn’t it be great if you could pinpoint the exact areas of your home that are driving up your energy costs throughout the year? You can do this with a home energy audit. A home energy audit will pinpoint exactly where your home is losing energy and then provide you with recommendations to remedy any problems that are found. The result can be an increase of energy efficiency as high as 30%. Home energy audits have to be performed by trained experts, so if you are interested in seeing what one can do for your home in Centralia, WA, call us today!

Testing and Inspection

A home energy audit is a thorough process that is broken down into two essential phases: the inspection and testing phase, in which a number of tests are conducted to find energy loss, and the analysis, in which the results of the inspections and tests are tabulated, and recommendations are given to resolve any problems that have been found during the inspection and testing process. Some of the types of inspections and tests conducted during a home energy audit include:

  • Visual inspection – our trained expert will thoroughly inspect your home from top to bottom, inside and out, to get a clear, overall picture of the state of your home.
  • Inspection of all insulation – insulation can become damaged and settles over time, so it’s important to see the state of your home’s insulation.
  • Inspection of attic area – attics are notorious for wasting energy for a number of reasons, including lack of ventilation and insulation. This inspection will give the technician a clear picture of what is happening in your home’s attic space.
  • Inspection of HAVC systems and appliances – this inspection allows the technician to detect any existing or developing problems with your heating and cooling system and major appliances.
  • Blower Door Test — the blower door test pinpoints the exact areas of air leaks in your home by using a specialized fan that depressurizes your home.
  • Infrared Scan — infrared technology allows the technician to clearly see areas where moisture has penetrated based on temperature. Moisture in your home can cause a number of energy efficiency problems.

Analysis

Once all inspection and testing has been completed, the technician will tabulate the results; he/she will also analyze 12 months’ worth of your energy and utility bills to assess how much money you’ve been spending. At the completion of the analysis, you’ll be given a full report detailing all the findings; you’ll also be given specific recommendations on how to fix any problems that were found.

Have concerns about your home’s energy efficiency? Then consider scheduling a home energy audit in Centralia, WA with a specialist from Sunset Air.

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Why Install a Commercial Generator System?

Friday, March 6th, 2015

There are a multitude of ways a long-term power outage can occur: weather events, flooding, damage to a substation – the list is pretty long. The bigger question is: can your business afford to be out of power for more than a few hours? When the power is out at your business, security systems won’t be able to operate, leaving your business vulnerable to intrusion. If you have a food-based business, such as a restaurant or coffee shop, you could lose a great deal of money to spoiled food. Plus, there are general issues that all businesses face when the power goes out, including problems with plumbing and heating. The bottom line: installing a commercial generator system in Olympia, WA, can really make good business sense.

Automatic Transfer Switch

One of the great benefits of having a commercial generator for your business space is that the generator will turn on automatically as soon as a power outage is detected. This is because the generator is equipped with sensors that detect instantly when the power going through your electrical panel is interrupted. The automatic process means you don’t have to worry about manually switching to your generator or that you’ll experience any power loss.

Uses Natural Gas

Generators use fuel for power, and many use natural gas; you can also use propane or diesel. When your generator is connected to a natural gas line, you won’t have to worry about running out of fuel (you will have to monitor the fuel with propane and diesel).

Can Power All Your Major Systems

A portable generator is very limited as to the amount of power it can provide, often generating enough electricity to operate 1-2 appliances at a time. Your commercial generator will be sized to power everything you need it to so that when the power goes out, your business will stay protected and operable, and may even be a safe haven for those without power.

The experts at Sunset Air know how devastating a long power outage can be for both homes and businesses.

If are interested to see how a commercial generator system can help your Olympia, WA, business, call us today!

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