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Pros and Cons of Natural Gas: What Are The Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Natural Gas as an Energy Resource

Atiqur Rahman Mollick
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Pros and Cons of Natural Gas: What Are The Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Natural Gas as an Energy Resource

Yes, anyone could say that natural gas is the priority as their first energy choice. It’s cheaper and easy to deal with. That’s why every household in today’s world uses natural gas in different forms. Besides cooking, people and families use it for other purposes too. Companies and media have been praising it as a cleaner energy source. On the other hand, climate change and pollution issues show us some of their pessimistic sides.

Natural Gas as an Energy Source

Mines that contain natural gas began to form millions of years ago. Bodies of plants and animals start to mix with sand silt and construct layers on the earth’s surface and under the sea. Over specific periods, these layers go under the earth’s surface as a part of the geological process. Absolute pressure and heat reform these organic bodies; these carbon-rich matters turn into coal, oil, and gas after a long process. Usually, the remains of animal bodies change into natural gas and oil.

When searching for natural gas, geologists use proper scientific and technical ways. They examine the possibilities by seismic waves, which identify the gas’s existence. Experimental wells ensure the grade and amount of natural gas. After that, engineers drill multiple wells for commercial production. Crude gas has to separate from other hydrocarbons, like Ethane, Propane, Butane, etc. Thus, gas for domestic supply and cylinders comes into being.
It has both sides as an energy source, both bright and negative.
Bright sides:
⦁ Natural Gas is environmentally friendly.
⦁ It is convenient. And efficient to use and more economical than other energy sources.
⦁ It is abundantly available in nature and highly reliable.
⦁ Natural Gas is easy to store as well as for transportation.
Negative sides:
⦁ Natural Gas is highly combustible and dangerous in case of irresponsible use.
⦁ It is a non-renewable energy source.
⦁ Natural Gas emits carbon dioxide, thus, polluting the environment.
⦁ Natural Gas has an extended processing process before being ready for commercial or residential purposes.

Origin and evolution of natural gas usage

The UK was the earliest country to commercialize natural gas usage. Around 1785, natural gas produced from coal helped light streetlights and residences.

In the 19th century, natural gas appeared as a source of light. Without a proper infrastructure of pipelines, it wasn’t easy to transport the gas far or into homes for heating or cooking. At the last of the 19th century, natural gas lights experienced a conversion to electric lights with electricity. The arrival of electricity led natural gas producers to search for new sectors to use their products.

In addition to that, the problem of not having a proper pipeline infrastructure which subsequently hampered the efficient transportation of natural gas remained in place. It wasn’t until the 1920s that significant efforts helped build an appropriate pipeline infrastructure. Post World War II, new welding techniques and advances in pipe rolling and metallurgy further improved pipeline reliability. After World War II, pipelines started to come in full force. The manufacturing boom lasted well into the 1960s and allowed for thousands of miles of pipeline in America.

Once natural gas’s efficient and smooth transportation became possible, new uses for natural gas came into being. The newly discovered benefits of natural gas as an energy source included home heating and operating appliances such as water heaters, ovens, and cooktops. Natural Gas became the key source of energy in manufacturing and processing plants of various industries. Also, natural gas helped out to heat boilers used to generate electricity. The expanded, extended, and efficient transportation infrastructure has made natural gas easy to obtain, and it has become an increasingly popular energy choice.

Natural gas and world energy corporations

Of course, the large amount of energy can’t churn out by itself. Since the energy business extended around the planet, big corporations have taken this task. These private energy giants perform worldwide for multi-dimensional connectivity and government initiatives.
Here are some bit preambles of the leading natural gas corporations which are running the energy sequences of the present world:

China National Petroleum: Being the number 1 natural gas producing company of China, it has a record of manufacturing about 130.6 billion cubic meters of gas per year. In a world of private corporations, it’s one of the largest state-owned companies in the world. This company explores, produces, and markets natural gas and deals with energy diplomacy. In 2020, it became the second-largest oil and gas company globally.

Saudi Arabian Oil Co: Today, it’s the second-largest gas company on this planet. According to 2020’s account, it had 31 million natural gas reserves. It’s one of the profitable energy corporations of this century, which made 41 billion dollars of profits in 2020.
BP: British Petroleum or BP is a London-based energy corporation that operates enormous gas and oil marketing worldwide. In 2020, it produced about 7.9 cubic feet of natural gas per-day basis.
ExxonMobil:
According to recent news, it’s the most significant US gas and oil company now. Although it’s experiencing a slow reduction in energy production, it could become a dominant figure in the energy scenario in the future.
Shell Plc:
As a London-based company, it’s one of the world’s renowned oil and gas companies. In 2020, it produced 2.79 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. It also explores and manufactures crude oil.
Chevron: Today, it’s not only an American energy giant but a leading oil and gas producer in the world. It runs many gases and oil mining operations in Asia, Australia, Africa, and Latin America. In 2020, it produced 5.7 billion cubic feet of gas.

Natural gas and energy safety

Precautions:

⦁ One must keep Combustible materials such as papers, fluids, paints, curtains, and rags away from furnaces, water heaters, and gas ranges and dryers.
⦁ All pilot lights need to keep lit as dangerous gas buildups can occur if they are not.
⦁ Chimneys, vents, and flues must be cleaned regularly as leaves, birds’ nests, fallen bricks, or mortar can cause problems, including carbon monoxide (CO) exposure.
⦁ Heating equipment must remain clean, and regular maintenance is needed to keep the heating equipment in good working order. Properly adjusted pilots, burners, and clean filters pay off in terms of both safety and savings.

In the event of Gas Leak:

⦁ Electric switches, appliances, or flashlights should not operate.
⦁ Matches should not light, and it’s necessary that any open flames, such as candles, are extinguished.
⦁ Should leave doors and windows empty, but should not spend extra time to open them if they are closed.
⦁ Must not reenter the affected place until a certified technician or other specialists have access.

Natural Gas and energy expenses

Low Investment Cost: Unlike other energy sources, shifting towards natural gas does not require significant investment costs.
Lower Energy Price: Effective, smooth transportation and minimal storage costs result in low expenses for natural gas users.
Lower Taxes and Fees: Using natural gas as an energy source provides immense environmental benefits. Hence, it often leads to lower taxes, fees, and penalties for causing fewer emissions than other energy sources.

Natural Gas and other fossil fuel

⦁ Natural Gas is more environmentally friendly because it burns cleaner than other fossil fuels.
⦁ Natural gas is safer and easier to store than other fossil fuels.
⦁ Natural Gas is less costly than other fossil fuels.
⦁ Natural Gas is a non-renewable energy source, just like other fossil fuels.

Natural Gas, pollution, and Green House effect

Even if natural gas is more environmentally friendly than other fossil fuels and produces fewer greenhouse emissions than its counterparts as it burns cleaner, it still pollutes the environment. Natural Gas contributes to greenhouse gases if burnt under inappropriate conditions and has an inevitable adverse effect on the environment.

Natural Gas is mainly methane, a vital greenhouse gas, thus adversely affecting the environment. Although methane persists in the atmosphere for far less time than carbon dioxide, it is much more dynamic in terms of the greenhouse effect. Pound for pound, the global warming impact of methane is 25 times more huge than that of carbon dioxide over 100 years. Globally methane is responsible for approximately 16 percent of human-generated greenhouse gas emissions.

Natural Gas and renewability of energy

Natural Gas is abundantly available in nature. However, it does not have a limitless supply. With this fundamental characteristic, natural gas is not a renewable energy source. However, Biogenic methane is a natural gas created in landfills and on farms with cows or organic matter. Biogenic methane is the only kind of methane that could be defined as a renewable energy source, though it comes through sources that cause climate change. A naturally replenishable energy source is renewable. So technically, natural gas could be regarded as partially renewable, as some aspects of natural gas are replenishable, whereas others are not.

Natural gas and energy source efficiency

Natural Gas is more efficient because of the following reasons:
⦁ Natural Gas is easier to transport, and little energy is lost while transported to the end-user.
⦁ It’s easy to store.
⦁ New technological innovations are continuously improving efficiency.
⦁ Excess renewable electricity is possible to convert to natural gas stored until needed.

Natural Gas, mining, and biodiversity

Drilling a well can affect wildlife and land use.
Geologists exploring natural gas deposits on land may disturb vegetation and soil with their vehicles. Drilling a natural gas well on land usually requires clearing and leveling an area around the site of the targeted well. With this intervention, local ecosystems could collapse, such as breaking migration patterns, polluting rivers and streams, and causing soil erosion. Well-drilling activities produce air pollution and disturb people, wildlife, and water resources. So, exploring natural gas can adversely affect wildlife and biodiversity.

Natural gas and energy diplomacy

For many decades, fossil fuels have become a primary element of international diplomacy. We experienced OPEC and its critical relations with the western hemisphere during the ’90s of the last century. However, this scenario is not over, it’s constantly changing.
It’s not easy to define energy diplomacy. Identifying some of its characteristics, it could be straightforward.
⦁ It emphasizes making policies to assure energy safety utilizing international diplomacy.
⦁ One of its targets is making regional or international business options with energy resources.
⦁ Worldwide, energy corporations emerged as elements of pressure groups of energy diplomacy.
For a long time, a large part of Europe has been dependent on Russia for natural gas, a critical issue for the United States. Although it wasn’t problematic for Western Europe, scenes changed in 2004. Several East European countries joined the EU. Natural Gas became a part of regional and international politics as an energy source.

Energy diplomacy is an inevitable part of today’s energy situation; atlanticcouncil.org.
It became more apparent when a significant supply disturbance occurred in 2006 and 2009. As a result, the anxiety between Russia and Ukraine grew significantly. West Europe and the USA began to liberalize the energy policy to deal with the gas supply issue. The promotion of renewable energy appeared as a reproving matter.

We can mark 3 points to understand the energy diplomacy relating to natural gas.

⦁ The transition towards renewable energy could become an acid test for the opponents of the Western power, especially Russia.
⦁ Searching for new natural gas mines in coastal areas could create recent regional and international diplomacy disputes.
⦁ Alternatives to natural gas would lead the developed countries to form new alliances due to energy diplomacy.

Future Prospect of natural gas as an energy source

Because of the Paris Climate Accord in 2015 and government policies worldwide, the big organizations primarily responsible for greenhouse gas emissions declare that they will be net-zero in terms of carbon emissions by 2050. This might seem like the beginning of the end for natural gas. Moreover, renewable energy sources may become cheaper and more efficient in many countries by 2030. Specifically, Europe is continuously working towards making the continent carbon neutral by 2050. So, it’s a fact that the low cost of renewable energy and strong environmentally friendly government policies will make it very difficult for natural gas to be considered a significant energy source in the future.

Some crucial facts

  • Natural Gas is the safest burning hydrocarbon on earth.
  • Its combustion does not produce ash residues, Sulphur oxides, and little nitrogen. This characteristic of natural gas sets it apart from all the other fossil fuels.
  • Natural Gas is available throughout the world either by itself or in association with crude oil, both under dry land and beneath the ocean floor.
  • Methane, or CH4, is the primary component of natural gas.
  • When natural gas is available in nature, it may also contain a mixture of butane, propane, and pentane gasses, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.
  • Before entering the market, the raw natural gas undergoes lengthy processing, purifying it into methane with some ethane to prepare it accordingly for commercial and residential use.

Conclusion

Natural Gas has played an enormous role as an energy source in modern times. Along with household uses, its industrial value is unbounded. Even though it’s not a renewable energy source, it’s cleaner than other fossil fuels. It doesn’t mean that it hasn’t any drawbacks. Mining and supplying natural gas need an extensive industrial process to perform, and today’s world is experiencing a remarkable transition towards renewable energy. Providing natural gas is also updating and is getting more environment-friendly. We could probably experience new horizons to fill energy needs by adapting natural gas in different forms.

Summary

Natural Gas is undoubtedly one of the primary energy sources in the world. It fills a huge need for energy around the globe, both domestic and industrial. After several rigorous industrial and technical processes, the mines fulfil the business and technical requirements. Natural gas has become a matter of diplomacy and trade in many ways. Although it’s not renewable, it’s cleaner than other fossil fuels. Recent trends in renewable energy seem to change many scenes in energy issues. But according to experts, natural gas will remain a significant energy source for a long time as a traditional energy source. Having both efficacy and obstacles, it still has many potentials, bringing new possibilities.

Pop-up camping tent: instant tents for stress-free camping guidance

Atiqur Rahman Mollick
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Pop-up camping tent: instant tents for stress-free camping guidance

Indeed, we all love camping. We enjoy seeing mountains, rivers, forests, and other natural beauties during camping. Nature heals us by refreshing us mentally and relieving us from our city-life monotony. That’s why camping has become a popular trend for folks who love to experience something new. In perfect camping, tents are inevitable parts. Those could be different in types; pop-up tents are one of those types. It’s easy to deal with and very trendy.

Why pop-up camping tent

Now, what’s unique about pop-up camping tents? Let’s take a look at the features which these tents provide.
⦁ Don’t have traditional tent poles.
⦁ You don’t need to check a manual to use it.
⦁ It’s pretty simple and easy to operate.
⦁ It opens up by itself, that’s why it’s convenient.
⦁ No need for extra maintenance.
⦁ It’s adaptable in any situation.

During an adventurous and pleasant trip, a traveller; or a hiker doesn’t want a tedious tent setup. It often gets bitter. A pop-up tent is the right choice for that.

How pop-up tents become trendy

Tents are as old as human civilizations. Almost in every ancient society, various types and shapes of tents appear as signs of human creativity. In the past ages, it was an inevitable way of survival.
Henri Hopkins Sibley first made the modern camping tent in 1856. It came as a military version of the ancient one.

In modern times, the tent has become a trend for recreation, although it’s still an alternative to traditional houses in many parts of the world. Today, tents and backpacks are synonymous with hiking, mountaineering, and camping. We love travelling and love to stay like ancient human beings in our vacation time.
Usually, sleeping bags and pop-up tents are very similar, although pop-up tents open automatically. A popular belief goes that sleeping bags are the predecessor of pop-up camping tents. It became popular in the late ’80s. Gradually, many versions of pop-up camping tents became popular.

Different types of pop-up tents

Lately, various pop-up camping tents have been in the markets to fulfil customers’ needs. These tents vary in shape, size, space capacity, and purpose. Here are some contemporary

types of pop-up camping tents:

Cabin pop-up tent: It provides more space than the other pop-up tents. Even with its size, it’s effortless to open. Only 60 seconds are enough to set it up. Buyers regard it as one of the best pop-up tents. Usually, two doors and net windows ensure proper air and light. About nine people can stay in such a tent without any problem.

Dome Shaped pop-up tent: It’s easy to set up and carry. Typically, it contains space for 6 to 7 persons by and large. Usually, the smaller tents are more stable than, the larger ones.
Family pop-up tents: Normally, four persons can stay in a family pop-up tent. It generally contains two doors on each side. Windows are not part of these tents, but many exceptions could appear. There are ground vents for air. Easy zippers and net-made pockets are other excellent features of this tent.

Automatic pop-up tent: Normally, it’s small and easy to move. It’s lightweight and easy to carry. Despite being compact and small, it has two doors, windows, and vents of the net. It’s perfect for summer camping and travelling.
Instant camping pop-up tent: Having two doors and no windows, it appears to be very easy to deal with two doors and no windows. A user can set it up in seconds. Zippers, lamp hooks, and pockets of nets are excellent features of these types of tents.
Although it’s not a universal classification, pop-up tents are becoming popular with these names. This list could be longer because the above mentions the standard features.

Pop-up camping tent and eco camping

In recent times, eco camping has become very popular as a climate-related issue. It means creating very little or no impact on the environment during camping. Campers try to avoid any chance of pollution; that’s why fossil fuel and machinery dependent on it can’t be even a single part of this sort of camping. Being adventurous, it’s convenient too.
Pop-up camping tents could be more likeable for eco campers as an option. Here are the reasons:
⦁ It’s minimal and straightforward, so there is no harm at all to the surroundings.
⦁ Therefore, it takes up very little space and is relatively safe for wildlife.
⦁ It doesn’t need to hassle setting up a tent, which often harms plants.
⦁ It creates very little or no hindrance for wild animals.

Things to consider before buying camping tents

Campers go out for adventure and thrill in an unconventional way. So, a good choice is mandatory. Anyone who wants to buy a pop-up camping tent should review several things before going.
Size: Pop-up tents range from more minor to a more significant type. If a single individual is buying a tent, he should choose a two-person tent for better relaxation. Although one person’s type is prevalent, the other would be better for one camper. A 1-person pop-up tent is mostly 2 meters in length, 1 meter in width, and 1.5 meters in height.
Weight: To a great extent, pop-up camping tents are light in weight. A single tent for one person is mostly around 2 kilograms. If the weather is blowy, the tent couldn’t be stable.
Center height: The height of the centre varies from one tent to another. A buyer could choose according to his way out. Some tents have the height for sitting or lying down only, while many others have some extra space up. Sometimes, more height means less width.

Way out: By and large, tents with more space contain at least two doors. But for a single camper, one entry is enough.
Elements: Polyester or nylon comes as common material for pop-up camping tents. And fibreglass poles are natural features that are cost-effective.
Water resistance: Usually, pop-up tents are waterproof. The elements in this resist wetness A camper needs to set up his tent in a dry area, as the materials are thin.
Ventilation: As synthetic materials are parts of pop-up tents, air can’t move without proper ventilation. So, a camper should check proper ventilation, like windows, ceilings, etc.

Various pop-ups for various types of camping:

Camping tents differ, as campers do. They vary by nature, as well as by the needs of users. Keeping that concern in mind, companies offer various pop-up tents according to the diversity of camping. Here are some of the most excellent cases in point.
Quechua pop-up tent: Many buyers have regarded it as one of the best tents for 2-3 persons. It’s white on the outside, but the black inside helps sleep. Despite having the space for 2, 3 persons could stay without any problem. Being completely weather-resistant, it helps to stop rain from getting in. For summer campers, it’s the most excellent option. Even though some users found the packing process difficult, it’s certainly a fine choice.

Coleman pop-up tent: This camping tent is appropriate for 2-4 persons. It’s cheap, therefore, easy to cope with other expenses. It’s fireproof, so during festive activities, it’s safe. Its center height is not that high. Campers could only rest or sleep. According to some users, it isn’t trouble-free to fold after use. Even with a low price, it’s an excellent option.

Amaya pop-up tent: This tent is suitable for family campers. Around 4-6 people could stay in it without any problem. That indicates that it’s heavier than the other types of tents. It also provides storage space for the campers. Inside it, a hook for a lantern imparts an excellent light option for users. It’s a low-height tent, so campers could relax and chill by sitting or lying down. Being safe in lousy weather resists rain so that wetness couldn’t be a problem.
Ubon pop-up tent: It’s ideal for 2-3 people. Despite being large, it’s pretty light in weight. Even though it has less ceiling height, it’s wide enough to provide enough relaxing space. It has two doors and a hook on the top inside for a lantern. Door curtains ensure the front view for the campers. 2 inner pockets exist to store things. The tent’s fabric is thin; consequently, it’s air-friendly. According to some users, zippers sometimes create problems. By and large, it’s an acceptable option to pick up.

Regatta waterproof Malawi: Usually, it’s better for kids during camping. Because of its lightweight usage during stormy or wintry environments. Camping in backyards, it’s an excellent choice for youngsters. Completely waterproof, so safety isn’t a big issue in this case. Needed ventilators assure proper air for the kids. Some users experienced a little moisture to make the walls wet, yet it’s handy.
Rebeam pop-up tent: It could be perfect for 1-2 persons. The best feature is that it’s durable in the wind. So, it’s an excellent choice if a camper is in a tropical area to spend a vacation. The black inside ensures a sound sleep after strenuous hiking. After wind experiments, proof that this tent can stand up to 6 to 5 kilometers of wind flow came out. Although a little heavy, it has other practicalities. It’s flexible and handy. Some users experienced difficulties as the windows closed from the outside.

Things a buyer should know

Campers should notice several things before buying pop-up tents.
What size does he need? There are many size variations, and campers should consider the appropriate size to have a perfect tent. It often becomes a common scenario for space shortage during group camping.
If the elements durable or not? Oftentimes, tents get worst for choosing the wrong options.
Is the weight ok, or not? Sometimes less weight means a limited space or tiny walls for a tent, which couldn’t be good enough.
Is it waterproof? It seems expected that although water-resistant, moisture could appear inside a tent, especially on the walls.
Are the entrances ok? The number of doors and their qualities should be good enough.
Are there proper ventilators? A camper must stay safe in the tent.
Where is the camper moving? The type of tents could be different according to that. In a snowy environment, a typical tent wouldn’t work.
What’s the purpose of camping? If a camper goes with a group to spend his vacation, then a tiny tent can’t be practical at all.

Pop-up tents, weather, and safety

Undoubtedly, safety is the priority during camping out. The weather could get extreme at any time; a camper should be conscious of that. Natural disasters vary according to geographical differences, and precautions should be appropriate according to that.
Lightning: It’s a possible common danger during camping. A camper shouldn’t set his tent up near metal bodies. The top of the hills or open zone during lightning isn’t safe. Camping near big trees is also not a good option then. Tents should be in secured areas, far from the tallest structures.
Sudden swamping: In the American Midwest area, it’s prevalent. When it occurs, a camper should move to a safe zone nearby. A person in adventure likes to set his tent on the bank of a river, but he should leave if there is any single possibility of a flood.
Hailstorm: During heavy hail, a camper should pack his tent up and take shelter amidst many trees or any nearby shelters. In this case, sheltering under a single tree isn’t the right choice.
Hurricane: When a hurricane sign appears, a camper must first pick up his essential things. It includes the first aid box, lamps, fire-ignitors, and so on. Taking down the tent and moving to a safe zone would be the perfect option.

The durability of pop-up tents

Generally, a pop-up tent goes with the ability to work in heavy sunshine, a rainy environment, and even in the winter wind. Polyester and synthetic materials are elements of these tents, so typically, it’s water or moist-proof. Durability repeatedly depends on ways of usage.
A user should be careful and aware of using the tent properly.
The camper should avoid rough usage.
Although these tents don’t need extra maintenance, users should sometimes check the bones and other parts.

Pros and cons of pop-up tents

Pros:
It takes level than 10 minutes to start it up. Although unbelievable, it’s true. Fortunately, It’s the most attractive feature of a pop-up camping tent.
A pop-up tent takes very little time to take it down. The maximum time is 1.5 minutes if the camper is an armature.
It’s effortless to bring. Being comparatively lightweight, It’s convenient for a camper.
For a beginner, it’s the most excellent option to have.
In the case of backyard camping, nothing can be suitable like it.
It’s child-friendly. Therefore kids could also use it finely during camping.
For solitary campers, it could be perfect in many cases.
Cons:
In a small pop-up tent, proper ventilation couldn’t get easier.
After packing, it could get heavier; therefore, difficult to bring.
Although waterproof, sometimes too much moisture can get the inside wet.
As it’s automatic, sometimes the folding could be challenging to perform.
Sometimes, pop-up tents have no weather protection at all.
In a pop-up tent, poles are difficult to place.

Some key facts about pop-up camping tents

It’s hard to find the true inventor of pop-up tents. David Rowe made the first lightweight tent in the ’70s. Since then, the design has come to the figure of today.
Pop-up tents are usually waterproof, but many complaints come from the campers that the inside wall got wet during camping. It’s not an uncommon phenomenon.
Although some pop-up tents could work in the wind, generally, these tents are not that wind-friendly, according to many campers.
Sometimes, it seems easy to set up a tent, but difficult to set that down. Because of the automatic feature, this problem takes place.
It could be an acceptable option for single usage for campers to experience. It’s easy to bring and easy to deal with.

Conclusion

The pop-up camping tent is a recent trend of many campers. For its simple attributes, it’s becoming popular gradually. It’s easy to move with and light in weight; consequently, it’s perfect for active campers. Users could handle minimal problems in maximum cases. Of course, it has its drawbacks; yet it could be more pleasing than the present version shortly.

Summary

In recent times, pop-up camping tents have become very popular. It’s pretty different from traditional camping tents. It’s relatively light, and the most fantastic feature is that the setting up is elementary. According to the needs of campers, many types of pop-up tents are on the market. They vary in size, shape, and space that they take. Generally, polyester and synthetic elements are the materials for pop-up tents. As it’s easy to deal with, today’s campers often choose it as their priority.

Solar Panel Size Chart: Variations and Dimensions

Atiqur Rahman Mollick
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Solar Panel Size Chart: Variations and Dimensions

The usage of solar energy is spreading widely nowadays. Experts say that it would become the future of energy consumption. New dimensions have arrived here, and industries that deal with solar power brought new horizons. A customer who wants to go solar should know details about solar panels and their working process. That’s why solar panel size matters.

Solar Panel Size Measurements

When someone talks about solar panels, the space it takes comes as a crucial matter. The size of solar panels is significant because many technical things, including installation and maintenance, depend. Also, the size of a client’s roof is substantial. Sizes of solar panels vary from company to company. But there are average size measurements by which general customers can assume.
Like the total panel size, the number and measurements of the cells are vital too. It differs from the full size does. Not only that, but the numbers of cells also vary. In general, the standard size of a solar panel is roughly 65 inches by 39 inches. Of course, differences in size arrive in companies.

A solar panel includes many solar cells, Photo Voltaic or PV cells. It converts the sunlight into electricity. This square-shaped cell generally holds 56 inches by 56 inches measurement. The number of cells differs by residential and commercial usage. Home solar panels typically contain 60 cells, whereas commercial solar panels generally have 72 compartments. In many areas, the numbers of cells increase, sometimes panels with 98 cells appear.

Usual Sizes of Solar Panels

Although sizes of solar panels differ, standard sizes exist. That doesn’t mean that all of the companies have the exact measurements. They vary from each other but have some standard features.
The usual size of a home solar panel is 65 by 39 inches. On the other hand, a commercial solar panel usually is 77 by 39 inches—here, the quantity of cells matters; length and width depend on the number of cells.
In some cases, the number of cells varies in commercial usage. Not only that, size differs according to the company. Let’s take the example of SunPower. Home panels are 61 inches by 41 inches. A little shorter and slightly wider.

Depth and weight matter here as a usual quantification of solar panels as well. Usually, 1.4 to 1.8 inches is the ideal depth. Recently, 1.8 inches is being popular among different companies.

Solar Cells: Shape, Size, and Others

Solar cells are the minor units of solar panels. These cells convert sunlight into electricity.
Silicon is the primary building element of a solar cell. Generally, solar cells produce electricity in the plane of the earth, but a special kind works in space. One or multiple layers absorb sunlight, which becomes electricity by mechanical means. Unlike batteries, chemical reactions don’t take place here.
The word ‘wafer’ often goes for solar cells in popular dialect. Many kinds of wafers appear according to home, commercial or subtle scientific usage. Usually, the technical names of the wafers go with ‘M.’ Thus, M1, and M2 these names come to identify solar wafers. For example, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, and M12 are the standard sizes. Their differences lie in length, area, diameter, and working capacity.

In these kinds of wafers, M1 and M2 are almost similar. Besides having a standard side length of 156.75 mm, their primary ingot sizes are different. The diameter of the M1 wafer ingot is 205 mm, and the diameter of the M2 wafer ingot is 210 mm. The area of the M1 wafer is 97.33 mm², while M2 covers an area of 131.33 mm². Today, many technicians prefer the M2 type for panels.
The M3 type wafer covers an area of 158.75×158.75 mm². Of course, sizes and locations vary from one to another, but the above measures are average at a glance. Recently, wafers are growing in size. The M4 wafer is 161.75×161.75 mm² in area. On the other hand, an M6 wafer generally covers an area of 166×166 mm².

Top companies that produce solar panels

Solar electricity products have become parts of significant industrial innovations. Recently, new horizons are appearing in making solar panels. Many new corporations are involving in this sector; that’s why the solar industry is emerging. Sunrun and Tesla are already famous as manufacturers, while JA Solar is gaining notable marketability.
The United States has a unique position in making and manufacturing solar panels. Although the USA often imports various parts and machinery from South East Asia, the country’s solar panels are more than tremendous. Here are some US companies that produce exquisite solar panels:
⦁ SunPower
⦁ Tesla/ Panasonic
⦁ SolSuntech
⦁ Auxin Solar
⦁ GreenBrilliance
⦁ Seraphim Solar
⦁ Solaria
⦁ SunSpark
⦁ SolarTech Universal
⦁ Lumos Solar
⦁ Global Solar
⦁ Certainteed Solar
⦁ Prism Solar
⦁ First Solar
⦁ Solar Electric America

Best Solar Panel Manufacturer Companies

Technologies develop faster; the same thing is true about solar panels. Currently, solar panel production has increased at a remarkable rate. Residential, commercial, and subtle scientific activities have experienced solar panels, which means the usage of renewable energy is rapidly spreading.
Today, many companies around the world are manufacturing solar panels that are very impressive. A large number of corporations came later in this field and performed unbelievable efficiently. Not only that, innovations are getting very popular. Here are some names of the companies which gained massive acceptance among buyers around the world.

Manufacturer Introducing Year Head Office
SunPower 1985 California, USA
LG Solar 2010 South Korea
Panasonic-Sanyo 1975 Japan and Malaysia
Trina Solar 1997 China
Kyocera Solar 1978 Japan, USA
Canadian Solar 2001 Canada
Yingli solar 1998 China
First Solar 1999 Arizona, USA
Suntech 2001 China

These different corporations have different achievements for solar panels. For instance, in 2016, the Trina Solar corporation ranked as the best solar panel manufacturer in the world (HIS Markit).

Leading solar panels of different companies according to size, shape, and technical matters

Today, solar panel models of different companies have become famous for effectiveness, efficiency, and warranty matters. Because of plenty of choices, customers often fall into confusion about picking out the right product. Again, not all of the panels have the same competence in every quality. Here is a chart which could be helpful for the customers to think about the perfect thing for them.
Neon R (LG Energy): This panel is very light, with a skinny layer of glass protective front sheet (2.88 mm) made with polymer. It contains a remarkable covering area to grasp sunlight to generate power. It has less electrical resistance and high-temperature performance. Having good durability, it also includes an excellent efficiency that can be even 21.4%. In warmer weather, it can work without any problems.

Maxeon 3 (Sunpower): This panel achieved popularity recently for its performance with 19 kg weight and a 25 years warranty. It has a thin glass laminate, very good in durability with ammonia and salt mist resistance. Having 104 monocrystalline cells can generate more power using lower space.

Alpha 360 (Rec): In 2019, the Rec group brought out the alpha series, along with alpha 360. It’s a heterojunction cell with multi-busbar wire contact. It has remarkable power efficiency (21.7%) and less power loss. It also shows good performance at high temperatures. Having 25 years warranty, it provides 20% more extra energy than traditional panels.

Overvolt (Panasonic): In recent times, solar panels of Panasonic gained exceptional popularity. Overvolt has two particular types of panels, the 360W, and the 370W.
The first has 20.6% efficiency, while the other has 21.1%. It produces energy better on hot days, primarily. On the other hand, it has a warranty of 25 years.

Power XT (Solaria): Many customers consider it unique for residential usage. It has lesser inactive areas and no bus bars. Also, it has a unique feature; it works even in shades. Other conventional panels produce very little or no energy in shadows, but this one produces 10% less energy. That means, in this case, it’s different. It has a 25 years warranty.

QPeak Duo G9 (Qcells): This panel came to market in 2020. Its specialty is that very few vertical gaps ensure the density of the cell. Its efficiency is about 21%, and half-cut monocrystalline PERC cells and 12 micro busbars can give a good energy supplement. In high temperatures, due to black surfaces, performance can be less a little. It has a 25 years warranty.

Solar panel size: USA, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and Sweden

If anyone wants solar power in his house, at first, he has to figure out the per our energy need of a household or commercial area. Not only that, but the time length of sunlight also matters here. According to this, the size of solar panels varies from country to country, although this variation confines only to minimal factors. Here are some dimensions of solar panels in different countries.

Countries Residential Size Commercial Size
USA 65 inches by 39 inches 77 inches by 39 inches
Canada 65 inches by 39 inches 78 inches by 39 inches
Australia 63 inches by 31.5 inches 65 inches by 39 inches
Germany 65 inches by 39 inches 76 inches by 38 inches
UK 62 inches by 39 inches 74 inches by 39 inches
France 62 inches by 39 inches 77 inches by 38 inches
Sweden 63 inches by 38 inches 70 inches by 36 inches

How weight matters in solar panels

Usually, the main power generating parts are not too heavy, but its additions like glass layers, aluminum frame, encapsulation foils, back sheets, and junction boxes increase the weight. Among all of these, glass and aluminum frames take a significant position.
By measuring the weight of solar panels, a customer can figure out his rooftop and its capacity to maintain solar panels. Before installation, one should know about the wright and its various effects. Again, weight differs according to residential and commercial usage. Research shows that the mean weight of a solar panel is about 3 to 4 pounds per square foot. So, it’s easy to grasp that residential and commercial roofs can bear this weight, but things can change in the case of old roofs.

Weight variations of panels in different solar companies

Before installing a solar panel on a roof, a customer should realize the weight and its impact. Of course, there are standard measurements, but weight varies from company to company. Although these variations maintain a specific range, it’s requisite for a consumer to understand them.

Solar Panel Manufacturer Weight (60 cells residential panel)
Sunpower 33- 41 lbs
Trina 41- 50 lbs
LG 38 lbs
Solar World 40-47 lbs
Hanwha Q CELLS 41 lbs
Kyocera 42- 44 lbs
Hyundai 38- 41 lbs
Canadian Solar 40- 51 lbs
Hanwha SolarOne 40- 42 lbs
Axitec 39- 41 lbs

The wattage of solar panels, according to manufacturers.

In general, maximum solar panels produce around 250 watts to 400 watts. Of course, some panels have more than 400 watts. Recently, new horizons are appearing- new panels with more producing power are coming into the market.
Here is a list of the wattage of different solar panel companies. In this list, facts about many individual corporations are present as remarkable entities.

Companies Minimum Wattage Output Maximum Wattage Output Average Wattage Output
SunPower 320 435 355
Trina 265 415 337
Panasonic 320 370 340
Canadian Solar 225 410 320
Hanwha 365 385 375
LG 315 415 365
Neo Solar Power 310 330 320
CentroSolar 250 320 278
Astronergy 350 370 360
First Solar 420 460 440
Hansol 250 360 304
Q CELLS 285 430 358
Amerisolar 240 330 285
Seraphim 255 340 294

Crucial facts about the size of solar panel

Solar Panels Don’t Need Direct Sunlight: Astonishing, but it’s true. The photovoltaic system works by the sunlight, but it doesn’t need direct energy. It collects power from different spectrums of light. It means that on cloudy days’ panels don’t stop producing power.
Power Per Square Foot: Regular solar panels can produce 20 watts per square foot. It means that an average house needs at least 30 solar panels to meet the need.
Very Little Maintenance: It’s fantastic. Once a house goes with solar panels, very little or no maintenance can help. The owner only has to ensure the right place for sunlight. And sometimes a little cleanliness, not more than that at all.
Lasting of Solar Panels: A regular solar panel generally lasts for about 40 years.
It’s Becoming Cheaper: Although it was a little costly initially, now solar panels are becoming low-priced, surprisingly. It has become cheaper than coal in many countries of the world.
Comparison of Efficiency: By and large, monocrystalline solar panels are more efficient. It looks darker, while the polycrystalline looks blue.
Rigidity vs. Flexibility: Although most traditional solar panels are stiff, recently, new kinds of flexible panels have to market. Undoubtedly, it has its advantages.
Changing Price: In the past, solar panels were expensive. Recent innovations have changed this scenario. Data shows that since 2008, the price of solar panels has decreased by 80%.

Efficiency and solar panel size: things that need to acknowledge

Typically, the efficiency of solar panels doesn’t depend on the size. We can realize a panel’s efficiency by dividing the power rating by the total panel area. On the other hand, a larger area means more giant cells and more prominent space to work. That means, Larger panels increase the amount of power. Therefore, it improves efficiency.
In recent times, some new kinds of panels have come to markets with more giant cells and more efficiency. Many of these new types of panels can produce even 600W of electricity.
The size of cells also matters here. Research shows that half-cut cells reveal more efficiency than the traditional ones.
At present, new kinds of panel formation have taken place, which are larger than the former. Among them, 166 mm, 182 mm, and 210 mm are becoming popular. The wafers of these panels are more extensive and also technically advanced. Therefore, they have extra efficiency. Companies often make targets for these panels to produce 600 W of energy.

Conclusion

The solar panel is an excellent answer to the power supply in households and commercial areas. It has almost no pollution. Hence it’s good for the environment. In recent times, new updates have arrived, which have made a remarkable transformation in solar panels. As a result, unbelievable changes happened in size, efficiency, and working technology. In the newer future, more special editions will make renewable energy accessible.

Summary

Size is very crucial in the case of solar panels. It differs from company to company, but purposes also matter here. The size of home solar panels is not similar to the size of commercial solar panels. Not only that, the average size of standard solar panels has changed from time to time. Nowadays size of the solar wafer has numerous updates, with new technology and working process. Panels generally make electricity from sunlight, but in recent times conversion has experienced new horizons. These current changes brought new transformations. These updates revolutionized the sizes of solar panels.

Reasons Why Green Living Tips For Home Is Getting More Popular In The Past Decade: A Philosophy to Quality & Easy Living

Atiqur Rahman Mollick
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Reasons Why Green Living Tips For Home Is Getting More Popular In The Past Decade: A Philosophy to Quality & Easy Living

People are attracted to green-living lifestyles for various reasons, be it good environmental practices, cost-saving initiatives, or the opportunity to instill positive values in the younger generation.

For that reason Today I am going to share some Reasons Why Green Living Tips For Home Is Getting More Popular In The Past Decade.

As we know, today our mother earth is crying! She’s suffocating with the toxicity of monstrous carbon imprint. She’s sick with her grief of exponential temperature rise! Today the climate crises have become more overwhelming, complicated, and irreversible. We, humans, are solely responsible for such existential crises.

Our madness of insanity to become successful, wealthy, and profitable is destroying everything! We are not only destroying the environment & neighboring species and but also destroying our souls.

We almost forget to live a happy life. We forget to live a life of love, joy, and fun. We fail to live in the beauty of nature. We forget that – we are living like our neighboring birds, plants, and animals.

We forget that we are not separate from being somewhat connected with each other and nature. Such a connection needs love, care, and compassion.

Once Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky said a revolutionary statement –

“Beauty will save the world.”

Many of us even did not understand the depth of his philosophy. We lack the understanding of the importance of experiencing beauty in every aspect. We are experiencing the beauty of nature. The beauty of breathing fresh air.

The beauty of living a healthy life. The beauty of swimming in freshwater. The beauty of having fresh food. The beauty of living in harmony. The beauty of being connected with people.

The beauty of being friends with animals-birds-insects. The beauty of the things as it is without any disturbance, and the list goes on.

The real meaning of life stands when you experience the beauty of having a simple, harmonious life connecting with nature with love, rather than using short-term material gain and greed for profit.

Our tough choice of the anthropogenic civilization of madness and aggression is bringing our extinction. Think carefully!

Do you know hydroponic lifestyle is also included in green living.

Are we bringing our doomsday in the name of wealth, success, science, culture, and society?

Is it time to get conscious of our individual choice and lifestyle? Instead of blaming the government, climate conferences, environmentalists, and scientists, you can make your personal choice, behavior, and lifestyle. Because if you want to bring change, you have to change yourself first!

“Being conscious of our choices helps us make small changes and lessen our impact on the earth one small decision at a time,” explained Emily Jessica Upton, marketing coordinator of Natural Holdings. These changes can include switching to renewable energy, natural or eco-friendly products, recycling, or merely making environmentally conscious decisions. It’s high time to go green, to go sustainable, and ecologically conscious. (Voigt, 2019)

Green is calling you, whispering in your ear, and knocking on your intuition. Transforming into an eco-friendly individual is not a choice anymore. Our collective personal green options and consciousness will save nature and us!

So, what are Green Living, Sustainable Living, and Green Sustainable living?

“Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it.” – Henry David Thoreau (Sustainable Baby Steps, 2020)

Green living is a way of life, a philosophy, and a lifestyle. Green living is a lifestyle choice where an individual chooses to be environmentally friendly. He prefers to be conscious and aware. Such options try to balance individual lifestyles, cultures & communities with the Earth’s natural resources, habitats, and biodiversity (Sustainable Baby Steps, 2020). It’s related to almost everything associated with benefiting the environment. Because helping the environment means benefiting ourselves – our health, body & soul. It’s a way towards healthy living. Its’ meaning ranges from the environmentally friendly movement to architecture and fashion.
Green has outgrown its meaning from a lively, vibrant color to a comprehensive, environmentally friendly way of living. So you can understand the depth of Green these days!

But the term Sustainable has a much more precise, broader, and standard meaning. According to the United Nations,
“It represents the wide scope of issues and activities that do not compromise the ability of Future Generations to meet their needs.” (Simons, 2018)

It means the item or action is producing environmental, social, and economic benefits. And not using up too many resources or causing pollution (Simons, 2018).

Sustainability includes green products and eco-friendly activities. But green doesn’t always necessarily mean sustainable. For example, a product made from renewable resources is considered green. Yet if a life-cycle analysis shows that it required a lot of energy for manufacturing and shipping to you, and if there isn’t a proper way to dispose of the product, it’s not considered sustainable. (Simons, 2018)

In laymen’s terms – “Living green and sustainably means creating a lifestyle that works with Nature, instead of against it and does no long-term or irreversible damage to any part of the environmental web.” (Sustainable Baby Steps, 2020)

What is the philosophy and rationale to go for green living? I mean, why do you need to choose Green living? What is the benefiting point?

So, from the defining section, you already know the positive vibes for going Green. Choosing to live Green is more than a fashion or trend; instead, it’s a conscious way of living life!

Creates positive Impact – Saves the Earth

The primary key to going Green – is to save the environment from our short-term gain. It takes a positive vibe. It is a conscious impact to make a personal contribution to improving the Earth’s health. Just imagine you’re reusing your clothes only by simply donating to poor people. Maybe it’s you who use food waste to use it as garden compost. It can be as simple as turning off the tap while brushing one’s teeth or as advanced as using solar heat for cooking food. Take baby steps to make sure the air is clean, the water fresh, and the plants are in plenty! These positive impacts are what make a green life worthwhile.

Make us healthy

What is right for your environment is also good for your health. Using harsh pesticides is damaging to both the environment and our well-being. Moreover, locally grown vegetables have more beneficial for our bodies. Healthier and fitter bodies and minds result from eating natural, organic foods, walking instead of driving, recycling, and reusing resources (Malik, 2020). Imagine you choose to walk or cycle to the store rather than drive. You can get the opportunity to breathe fresh air and to see the unseen beauty of nature. How soothing is that! In this way, you also reduce carbon emissions and increase overall fitness. Eating healthy and being in nature are also scientifically proven to be beneficial for kids.
In most cases, it saves money.
Green living does not mean you have to spend more. By going green, you can enhance your well-being. You can do it by making your life eco-friendly on a budget. And guess what! You can save money. Like if you produce your food in a garden will benefit your mind and body. And you will need not go to the grocery for veggies shopping. Instead of visiting shopping malls to feed your shopaholic madness, you will choose to buy fewer quality things. This will saves your money and reduce waste.

Increase our awareness and mindfulness.

By going green, you intended to stop being thoughtless about unnecessary things. Like washing clothes with hot water or jumping into the car for a quick five-minute drive. Being green means being more and more mindful of the decisions you make. (Malik, 2020)

Do you line dry your clothes? (Malik, 2020)
Do you eager to buy locally produced goods and fresh produce? (Malik, 2020)
Do you bring cosmetics laden with chemicals? (Malik, 2020)
Do you use one-time plastic bags for your groceries?
Do you use plastic straws?
Do you waste too much of your everyday food?

And the list of awareness-raising questions goes on. These are simple things with a massive impact on the surrounding environment. The cause of eco-friendly living is to be more aware of your & everyday actions while making a change to benefit the environment (Malik, 2020).

More quality time – Your time will thank you.

Going Green will make you choose the conscious effort of your action. Instead of going to chaotic urban places, clubs, and shopping malls, you would prefer to spend your time in soothing natural sanctuaries and parks. If you tend to spend more time in nature, your mind & body would be calm. And you will be more meditative, peaceful, healthy, and productive. Spending time in nature with kids will also boost their well-being and bonding. Reading books in between the beauty of nature is another good option to stay away from toxic life.

Lead a Fulfilling Life

When you decide to go green and work to protect the environment, you eventually experience an insightful sense of satisfaction when you start acting in a conscious, eco-friendly, and mindful way. According to Evan Albright –
“The amount of wood and paper we usually throw away is enough to heat 50 million homes for 20 years.
Over 100 million Americans breathe air that is so polluted.
Americans are throwing away 2.5 million plastic beverage bottles an hour.” (Malik, 2020).

Alarming figures like these will raise your consciousness before any kind of personal action and lifestyle choices. It helps you to grasp the seriousness of the situation of going green. Going green is the only option we have in this moment of the climate crisis.

How could Green living to be achieved? Also, explain Green living tips on each related section for the home that boost your productivity; also, it helps to improve your surrounding environment.

Carbon footprint
Zero-waste lifestyle
Net Zero
Self-sufficient life
Minimalism

Now let’s investigate the hacks, tools, and concepts to achieve such Green philosophy personally. Let’s look at the following –

Conscious reduction of Carbon Footprint

You can’t control or change every nonsense happening around you to save the world. But being conscious of your own carbon footprint helps.

But! Hey, what is Carbon Footprint?

A carbon footprint is actually the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) produced by particular human activity (take part, 2020). The total GHG usually comes from the production, use, and end-of-life of a product or service. CO2 is the predominant GHG and others, including – methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases (Albeck-Ripka, 2020). These gases trap heat in the atmosphere which causes global warming.

Can you calculate your Carbon Footprint? But How?

Every individual, home, store, office, and factories are producing their carbon footprint. There are tons of online calculators to calculate it. It’s a difficult job to do. The calculation only provides an estimation, not an accurate result. The amount of your carbon footprint will give you an average idea of how much you are responsible for global warming. It will make you aware and conscious of your current lifestyle.

Usually, the bulk of an individual’s carbon footprint will come from
Transportation they use
Housing their inhabitant
And the food they take (take part, 2020)

Online calculators can be helpful for you. It would give a rough estimate of your carbon footprint based on –

  • The size of your household
  • The efficiency of your appliances
  • How much do you drive or fly
  • What you eat
  • And how much you recycle (take part, 2020)

For calculating your carbon footprint, you will need to know the following:

  • Your approximate traveling time by car, bus, train, and plane.
  • The energy your use in your home.
  • How much time do you spend shopping?
  • The composition of your daily diet. (Albeck-Ripka, 2020)
  • No matter how you scored, it could help you lessen your environmental impact.

How can I reduce my carbon footprint?

Some general tips and tricks to reduce your carbon footprint include –

  • Driving more-efficient vehicles (take part, 2020)
  • Make sure that your current vehicles are correctly maintained.
  • Service your vehicle regularly. Like simple checking of tires. “Low tire pressure will hurt your fuel economy,” – Mr. West said. (Albeck-Ripka, 2020)
  • Taking public transportation
  • Riding a bicycle or taking a walk for a short distance.

Using energy-efficient appliances. For example:

  • Using a laptop while your office work instead of a desktop computer
  • Turn down the heater, water heater, AC, light, and other appliances if not required.
    Use LED lights
  • Replace old fridges as they are the “energy hog” according to Mr. Horowitz, and can cost you up to $100 extra per year to run (Albeck-Ripka, 2020)
  • Insulating your home for reducing heating purposes and air conditioning costs
    Consuming food that doesn’t require much transportation
  • Eat less meat, which contains a higher carbon footprint than vegetables and fruits.
    Fly and drive less as possible.
  • Individuals and companies can also offset some CO2 emissions by purchasing carbon credits. The money from carbon credit can go into projects such as planting trees or investing in renewable energy (take part, 2020).

Choosing a Zero waste lifestyle

These days many people make only a jar of trash in a month or a year! Can you believe that? These days, people are aware and ready to cut their waste. That is a good sign. However, it’s not realistic to try to fix all their trash into an eight-ounce mason jar. And too much extreme discipline will make the people not stick with their zero-waste trend.

“Zero-waste is really about trying to minimize your trash and making better choices in your life. Just do the best you can and buy less.” – said Kathryn Kellogg, a zero-waste blogger (Leahy, 2018).

So, what is Zero Waste?

First, I need to clarify that Zero Waste is not a trend or buzz or fashion. It’s a simple philosophy and movement of sustainable living. Zero-waste is a movement to reduce the amount one consumes and consequently throws away (O’Connor, 2018).

How is Zero waste beneficial for the environment?

Zero Waste lifestyle that influences all environmental areas by –
Preventing resource extraction
Reducing the number of materials in the landfill or incinerator
And reducing pollution from producing, transporting, or disposing of materials. (O’Connor, 2018)

But how does it benefit you?

Zero waste is a way of living life, and you cannot achieve it overnight! Even though I’m a very green person, I’m still learning step by step. Because abrupt and harsh change is not long-lasting. So, yeah, you need to be practical and conscious at the same time! Simple & easy steps could help you to go to Zero waste. As you already know that anything environmentally friendly will benefits you.

Adopting a Zero Waste lifestyle can often be furthermore affordable. You can take the following baby steps to zero waste to save your money! Those includes:
Composting
Buying second-hand
Sharing and donating when you can
Packing your lunch. (O’Connor, 2018)

What are the Five Simple Principles of Zero-waste From the Experts?

Refuse what we do not need. For example, restaurants opt to go strawless. (O’Connor, 2018)

Reduce what we use, especially if we are not using it (O’Connor, 2018). Like, cook food as per the requirement to avoid wastage.

Reusing things until it no longer works. Like –
Repurpose worn out items
Repairing what we can
Shop for used goods
And purchase reusable products like steel water bottles

Compost – up to 80 percent of waste by weight is organic. But this rarely decomposes in landfills (Leahy, 2018)

Recycle your product only when all previous options have already been explored (O’Connor, 2018). It still takes some energy and resources to recycle. But it’s always better than sending stuff to the landfill or allowing it to become litter (Leahy, 2018)

Tips and hacks for quick starters on a zero-waste lifestyle!

  • Replace one-time disposable products.
  • Always bring a shopping bag for groceries.
  • Always carry a bottle.
  • Always get your dinnerware to take away meals.
  • Replace tissues and paper towels with a handkerchief and a dishrag.
  • Replace disposable straw with a reusable straw.
  • Replace disposable diapers with a reusable diapers. (Shuang Ao, 2016)
  • Find out a local zero-waste grocery shop that has no packaging or plastic.
  • Buy/cook only a necessary portion of foods.
  • Shop second-hand items
  • Donate your no-longer-used items to those who are needed.
  • Say no to unnecessary printing; we are living in a digital era now! (Shuang Ao, 2016)
  • If you have a child, then try to buy fewer plastic toys to avoid clutter and garbage.

Vision for a Net Zero home: Green Living Tips For Home

Now the point is, you need to build a super energy-efficient net-zero home. But how? The secret is to lead a life in which both transportation and home energy use are close to net zero.

A Net-zero home is a visionary home toward sustainability.
Net-zero is the movement toward renewable clean energy.
It’s a modern and efficient way of living.

Some people use the extra power from their home solar collectors to fuel home appliances and electric vehicles. For example, Honda recently is producing such a smart, sustainable home. They installed renewable energy sources like a solar panels on the rooftop. This ease home living and charges the electric vehicle sustainably.

To reach the global carbon emission goals set by world leaders at the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference, we all will need to be living, working, and commuting with net-zero energy use by 2050. (Zero energy project, 2019)

Now it’s high time to start on the path toward zero energy living both in our personal lives and community level. (Zero energy project, 2019)

How could you convert or renovate your existing home into a net-zero green home?

Conversion of Existing Homes to Net Zero Energy Emission is Essential to reduce GHGs. The four technologies for green home transformation include:

Adopting recent rapidly improved heat pump technology, especially “mini-split heat pumps,” to heat and cool residences. Thus displacing natural gas furnaces and low-efficiency air conditioning

Use of renewable energy, like adopting rooftop solar. But also need to connect communities to local and national renewable energy projects

The use of new heat pump technology to heat water for household use

buy a hybrid or fully electric vehicle and use it for your local travel (or if you can afford a Tesla or Bolt, for longer trips). The good news is, that these green cars are getting affordable these days. (Net-zero made simple, 2019)

How will you be benefitted from net-zero living? 

It is undoubtedly true that a net-zero lifestyle is the least expensive way to get immediate energy savings.

We already know that it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Relatively inexpensive technologies can provide some dramatic reductions in energy use. These technologies can reduce –
Your monthly utility bills
Your monthly gasoline bills
Significant drops in fossil fuel consumption
And your carbon footprint. (Net-zero made simple, 2019)

Some necessary home improvements are incorporated, like your home’s insulation plus reducing excessive leaks of heat or cooling from your living structure.

Some easy tips to go Zero Net home

  • Zero energy living is about making many small, simple changes. Even any middle-class family could do it with ease!
  • Unplug all electronics when not using them. Purchase energy-efficient electronics to help reduce plug loads and use them wisely.
  • Turn off the lights while you aren’t in the room, even if those are CFLs or LEDs.
  • Put your home in holiday mode when leaving for more than a couple of days. Unplug electronics and flip the breaker on your water heater.
  • Replace all light bulbs in your home with LED bulbs. Not only are LEDs more energy efficient than other bulbs.
  • Minimize the use of energy-intensive appliances such as hairdryers and irons.
    Take shorter showers.
  • Turn your water heater down to below 120 degrees and turn it off while you are going on vacation.
  • Use your microwave for as much cooking as possible, as it is considerably more energy-efficient than an oven or stovetop.
  • Use the energy-saving features of your dishwasher.
  • Use task lighting and natural lighting wherever it is possible rather than full room electric lighting.
  • Install insulated shades inside of the house to keep the cold out on winter nights and keep the heated weather out on hot summer days.
  • Bring outdoor breezes indoors for temperature changes. On hot summer days, close the windows to keep the heat out. But open up the house usually in the evening, when temperatures are pleasant.
  • Keep calm with portable or ceiling-mounted fans rather than air-conditioning.
  • When washing clothes, try to use cold water and choose the high-speed spin cycle to get as much water as possible before drying. It is beneficial with a high RPM washer.
    Install an energy monitoring system with your electric circuits that will let you know where energy is being wasted.
  • Replace the old appliances. Trade for more efficient machines. Go for the Energy Star models.
  • Purchase energy-efficient heats pumps rather than dryers and reduce the energy is spending on drying clothes compared to a standard drier by 50-60%. Although they are more expensive than traditional dryers, they will pay for themselves in about five years due to their extraordinary energy savings.
  • Purchase a washer with a relatively high RPM spin cycle that is 1300 or more, which spins out much of the water.
    (Zero energy project, 2019)

Minimalism Lifestyle 

When you talk about minimalism, it’s more about the process of less material possession. It’s a state of mind. And your mind is the state of home! Shocked right? A home is not about different materials or a beautiful interior but a state of mind. A home is a state of mind of less chaos, less clutter, and less desire for materials is heaven! Thus minimalism is a philosophy of choosing only the things you need to live a happy and productive life. For many minimalists, the philosophy is about getting rid of excess stuff and living life based on experiences rather than worldly possessions (Murray, 2020).

Choosing Minimalism as your lifestyle is like discovering a new you—a new you with more consciousness, more energy, time, and more organization. A new you with a less messed up life. A new you with less carbon imprint and fewer wastes. A new you with more saved energy and money. A new you with fewer bills and less or zero debt. A new you with a clean, soothing home and more happiness.

Minimalism could be a great struggle at the age of more options, more materials, more technologies, and more advertisements. But still, you can experiment with living without at least one product for some time. Eventually, you would realize you don’t need that product anymore! Minimalism is a philosophy of choosing only the necessity and abandoning unnecessary products and expenses. How empowering is that!

What are the benefits of being a minimalist?

Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important—so you can find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom. (Millburn & Nicodemus, 2020)

Be free from financial worry (Murray, 2020)
Get rid of clutter that doesn’t add value to your life (Murray, 2020)
Spend more on experiences rather than stuff (Murray, 2020)
Be happier
Less stressed
Go green (Murray, 2020)
Develop better relationships (Millburn & Nicodemus, 2020)
Discover a purposeful meaning of life
Quality time to self-exploration
Time to take care of your mind, soul, and body
Saves expenses.
You become richer in mind and finances.
More beauty and aesthetics in home

How to get started with a Minimalist Lifestyle?

It’s about the adaptation of a minimalist mindset. It’s about choosing a simple and easy life over an extravagant lifestyle.

Define your vision on –
What motivate you to embrace a minimalist lifestyle?
What does it actually mean to you? (Jennifer, 2019)

Decluttering, which is not necessary, matters or adds meaning. For example, if you’re decluttering your bedroom—
What are your goals?
How do you want to feel in your bedroom? Use this visualization to help you stay focused. (Jennifer, 2019)
You can declutter the home in terms of – clothes, toiletries, furniture, decorations, toys, cooking utensils, televisions, electronic items, etc. (Home & Garden, 2018

Identify what matters. Like- relationship, time, living life, conscious citizen, and going green.

Write down a list before shopping.

Shop when needed.

Choose quality products rather than cheap ones. Quality products last longer.

Consciously choose products that could be reusable further. And the products that are easy to recycle and compost.

It would be best if you reminded yourself that Minimalism is a journey, not a destination. Need to make sure about enjoying the ride! You definitely shouldn’t wait to enjoy the simple life.

Self-sufficient Life of Green Living Tips For Home

What are Self-sufficient means?

According to dictionary.com, self-sufficiency is –
First, self-sufficiency is being able to supply one’s own basic needs without external assistance.
Or, it could also mean having extreme confidence in one’s resources. (Poindexter, 2020)

Now let’s have a story in this regard!

Once upon a time, a sweetheart couple got married with “happily ever after.” But they weren’t happy just after two years of their marriage with one kid. After a lot of meaningless dramas and unproductive fights, they decided to live –

“A life of self-sufficient
A life of simplicity
A life of uniqueness
A life of more freedom & less dependence
A life full of meaning, happiness & true fun
A life of green manner
A life of love & a passionate bond
A life of hidden dreams!”

They changed their mindset step by step and discussed it with each other. The couple starts to create a mindset- “less is more.” They decided they will not run for meaningless success, wealth, and bonds anymore. Instead, they choose to live a simple home life, where they together will live self-sufficiently.

They write down a list of processes, and the journey begins –

They start to cook their food by joining all together for a giggling cooking environment.

They start growing their vegetables full of satisfaction. They transform their backyard into a colorful garden with various local vegetables, fruits, and flowers. There they created a vibe of favorable ecosystems where butterflies & bees get a chance to pollinate. They made a positive vibe where you can breathe and sit or meditate for hours.

They start to create green rooftop facilities with hydroponic and vertical gardening. Such gardening requires less space, saves water, uses less energy, and has fewer maintenance hassles.

They start raring their chicken & cows for meat and dairy products. The kids also actively participated in providing food to chickens.

They have also started to reduce at least 50% of their electricity from rooftop solar panels. It eventually reduces energy dependency and extra bills.

They also bought a solar cooker in their backyard garden to have a picnic at lunchtime

They also start to involve planting local trees for beautiful landscapes along the walkway toward the backyard garden. It created a soothing green effect in the environment, mind & soul!

They start to sell the excess of vegetables and fruits to the local store.

They start to shop the seasonal fruits and vegetables from the adjacent walkway grocery instead of going far away from town.

They are also involved in donating food, clothes, and other stuff for free to the people in need.

They start to provide financial charity to poor people, orphanages, and environmental organizations, when possible.

They start to work only three days as a freelancer entrepreneur. It reduced the dependency on transportation.

They also start to take their kids to an adjacent walkway school.

They start to buy fewer toys rather than actively playing with kids to make a real bond of love.

They start to watch movies and read stories, books, and the family to create a shared fun moment.

They start to make their wooden tree house for playtime, just like the fairytale dreams.

They also start to create arts, writings, poetry, and crafts for home decor. And to make memories!

They also tried to make their indoor and outdoor walls as artwork. They are avoiding the unnecessary decorating stuff and purifying the indoor home. Also, the green is creating a soothing, cooling effect in their home and their mind! Because you know, “Plants are magical”!

In terms of energy savings, through the process of transpiration, plants are able to

It’s how anyone can take baby steps to go green and simplify their life with self-sufficiency. Easy and dreamy, right?

Summary Of Green Living Tips For Home

Green is calling you, whispering in your ear, and knocking on your intuition. Transforming into eco-friendly individuals and living a simple, easy, and sustainable life has been echoing through society—individual choice of green and simple lifestyle matters. Our collective personal green preferences and consciousness will save nature and us!

Living green and sustainably means choosing a lifestyle and philosophy where an individual decides to be environmentally friendly. It’s a simpler and more comfortable version of a lifestyle where you live a quality life without harming the environment.

The secret hack to achieve such Green philosophy on a personal level are:
Carbon footprint
Zero-waste lifestyle
Net Zero
Self-sufficient life
Minimalism

A carbon footprint defines the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) produced by particular human activity. Individually you make GHG from the transportation, food, and housing sector. You can use online software to calculate your carbon footprint easily. And you could easily set your mind to reduce less carbon.

Zero-waste is an individualistic mindset and choice to reduce the amount one consumes. It’s a movement to reduce and consequently throw away. Anyone can take small baby steps to achieve the Five Simple Principles of Zero-waste. For say-

  • Refuse what we do not need
  • Reduce what we use and need
  • Reuse what you consume
  • Recycle what you can’t refuse, reduce or reuse
    Compost if possible.

A Net-zero home is built super energy efficient modern home. The goal is where transportation and home energy use are close to net zero. A Net-zero home is a visionary home toward sustainability. Net-zero is the movement toward renewable clean energy. For example, you can adopt solar/renewable energy for your electricity need. You can switch to affordable electric vehicles like Tesla or Bolt for transportation.

When you talk about Minimalism, it’s more about the process of less material possession. It’s a state of mind. Choosing Minimalism as your lifestyle is like discovering a new you. A new you with more consciousness, more energy, more time, and more organization. A new you with a less messed up life. A new you with less carbon imprint and fewer wastes. A new you with more saved energy and money. A new you with fewer bills and zero debt. A new you with a clean, soothing home and more happiness.

According to dictionary.com, self-sufficiency is being able to supply one’s own needs without external assistance. It’s self-confidence in one’s resources. It follows up on the philosophy of – “less is more.” It’s an intelligent way to choose to live a simple home life.

It’s high time to wake up from the insanity of anthropogenic roots. It’s time to go smart, simple, and green!

Conclusion

By going green by individual responsibility, we build a breathable healthier environment. We create a sustainable future by simply being responsible and environmentally friendly.

It is essential to practice green living because our lives would be in danger if we don’t. A polluted environment would trap us and our future generations. Think of our surroundings without clean air, food, and drinking water! And tragically, we have already been exposed to the irreversible era of the climate crisis. So our only option is to go green.

With a greener planet, you and I can look forward to a cleaner environment. You could create a bright future with greater possibilities. With a better quality of air, surroundings, and food, we are more likely to be healthier. Our life would become more fulfilled with aspirations. And we’re going to enjoy our relationship with our loved ones more. (Green coast, 2018)

We hope this Green Living Tips For Home will help you to create home like a heaven with green environment.

My final thought on the essence of the Green Lifestyle is –

“If you want to find your soul, your loving inner-child
Who has lost somewhere!
Somewhere in the middle of competition, success & extravagant wealth
Somewhere in the middle of a chaotic urban jungle
Somewhere in the middle of lies of materials
Somewhere in the middle of artificial thoughts & colors
Somewhere in the middle of toxics
If you want to find your true version
Go Simple,
Go Beautiful you,
And Go Green!”

Let’s all go green. Live in a better world. A dreamy world!

#Most Actionable Guide for Hydroponic tomatoes!!! Grow Your Own Hydroponic Tomatoes Right Now!!!

Atiqur Rahman Mollick
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#Most Actionable Guide for Hydroponic tomatoes!!! Grow Your Own Hydroponic Tomatoes Right Now!!!

Of Course, people like tomatoes as a vegetable. It increases the taste of the usual dishes and has health benefits as well. It can prevent cancer, high blood pressure, and heart diseases. That’s why in every part of the world, tomatoes are one of the most excellent picks.

Increasing demand for food needs an unusual method of growing food. That’s why hydroponic tomatoes are becoming popular. It can be an essential source of vegetables if appropriately utilized.

Why Hydroponic Tomatoes

So, What’s unique about hydroponic tomatoes? Well, naturally grown tomatoes are perfect and nutritious. But you have to depend on soil for the growth of tomatoes. By cultivating it in a hydroponic way, you can control this food’s attributes to fulfill your choice. Again, you don’t have to worry about many of the side effects of insects’ lousy soil. You can imply nutrition as you want. Hydroponics can fill up your demand in an easy way.

Tips for Growing Hydroponic Tomatoes

Some proper ways should be maintained to get the best outcome by growing tomatoes hydroponically. These ways are not very hard, although they have to be taken to achieve an excellent result. These ways are not very hard, although they have to be taken to achieve an excellent product.
You may ask with what you would start, seeds or plants? Plants can seem a more straightforward answer. Well, the reality is the opposite. Plants are easy prey to diseases and other kinds of complexity. So, the seeds are better. Plant diseases can hardly attack them.

Carefully Chosen seeds of tomatoes should be placed into a nursery tray, which has a 4.5 pH level. After placing the seeds, 20 to 25-degree Celsius temperature should be maintained until the seedling comes out.

The Hydroponic Nutrient Solution for Tomatoes

The nutrient is a very crucial part of the hydroponic growing of tomatoes. Nutrients for tomato production are classified into macronutrients and micronutrients. Plants use macronutrients in large quantities and micronutrients in comparatively low amounts. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S), and Chloride (Cl) are considered to be macronutrients. On the other hand, Iron (Fe), Boron (B), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Molybdenum (Mo), and Zinc (Zn) are called micronutrients.

The amount that should be given to the seedlings differs in different stages. Because the plant doesn’t need the same nutrients in primary and advanced stages. In preliminary steps, tomato plants need limited nutrients. Because too many nutrients can hamper the plant’s growth. When the plants begin to grow, the amounts of nutrients should be increased. Because at this time, more nutrients should be needed to achieve a better outcome. When the plants are fully grown-ups, nutrients should be given at an elevated level. This increased amount of nutrients gives the tomatoes further growth.

In the primary stage, the density of Nitrogen should be kept limited. Because too much Nitrogen can hamper the flowering period of the plant. Similarly, Calcium and Potassium are also given in a short amount. The amount of Nitrogen, Calcium, and Potassium should be increased at a little increased level in the advanced stage. This increased nutrition helps to get better fruits. In the mature stage, the plants need nutrition at the highest level. Because the increased plants and fruits need more nutrition than in the previous stage.

Problems of Hydroponic Tomatoes

Like the traditional way of cultivation, hydroponic tomatoes can face various problems. These problems are not related to the hydroponic system, and many other factors can make these problems to the seeds, plants, and fruits. Careful steps can help to prevent these problems.
Sometimes fruits can be not so good as wished before. Misshapen tomatoes are often seen happening. The absence of proper temperature is a prime cause of this incident. Tomato plants are well-adopted to grow better at little above 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius). Lower temperatures can damage the fruits.

Sometimes deep brown or black areas are seen at the bottom of the fruit. It is called the Bottom End Rot problem. It is not a disease in the usual sense. Lack of Calcium is considered to be a reason for this. Proper nutrition can solve this problem.

Fruit cracking is a common problem that can have happened to tomato plants. These cracks sometimes seem to be very unpleasant. Experts say that inconsistent water can cause this problem. Although all cracking types are not problematic, cracking can also be seen as a result of very first growth.
Sometimes tomatoes become malformed with scars. At the last stage of this disease, the fruit becomes disfigured from the bottom. This difficulty is called ‘catfacing’. Low temperature during the period of early growth and pollination can cause this problem.
Sometimes uneven ripening is seen in different parts of tomatoes. This happens because of high nitrogen and low potassium, high temperature, whiteflies, and particular kinds of viruses. Proper nutrition and taking care can reduce this problem.

Pros and Cons of Hydroponic Tomatoes

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of hydroponic tomatoes:

Pros:
Tomatoes grown hydroponically use efficient use of nutrients and water.
Hydroponic tomatoes hold a very high yield in terms of production.
The best thing about hydroponic tomatoes is that it does not require a specific season to grow; you can produce them throughout the year.
Pest control methods for hydroponic tomatoes are excellent. So, say goodbye to annoying pests.
Hydroponic tomatoes eliminate variables that can inhibit growth, such as pH, salinity, diseases, or inadequate drainage.
The grower can control all environmental aspects and ensure the tomatoes are in the most conducive environment for them to be grown.

Cons:
Hydroponic tomatoes consume a healthy amount of energy.
Requires above-average management skills to successfully manage plants.
Some people may prefer soil-grown tomatoes over hydroponic tomatoes.

Hydroponic Tomatoes Kits

Let us now look at some popular and available kits for growing hydroponic tomatoes.

Hydrofarm GCTB Tomato Barrel

You could use the Hydrofarm strictly as a traditional tomato planter with a self-watering system. But you could also use an inert growing medium like perlite or coconut coir in the farmer and deliver all nutrients through the watering system. And that would make the Hydrofarm a straightforward, very inexpensive hydroponic growing system.

General Hydroponics WaterFarm

This is not the least expensive kit, but perhaps the best kit for newbie hydroponic growers. General Hydroponics has been in business for about 40 years and is one of the most trusted and respected companies in hydroponics. Their WaterFarm system is designed to provide an easy start for beginners. And it’s an easily expandable kit for experienced growers. The WaterFarm is genuinely a complete system, providing everything you need to get started except for your seeds.

The Deep Water Culture Hydroponic Bucket Kit

This basic hydroponic kit offers lots of value for the price. It’s an excellent intro kit for hydroponic newbies. It’s easy to assemble and set up. And yet it will provide a thorough introduction to the science of hydroponic cultivation. For the price, the Deep Water kit might be the best hydroponic beginner’s kit on the market.

Deep Water Culture Hydroponic Bubbler Bucket Kit

This is another excellent kit for beginners. While a bit more expensive than some other basic hydroponic growing kits, it offers the advantage of providing 4 times the growing space of some other popular basic systems. So while this system is ideally suited for exposing newbies to hydroponics, it also provides the ability to grow several different crops at once.

Hydroponic tomatoes pH

Keeping the pH level right is doubtlessly the essential thing in hydroponic growing. For tomatoes, you can adjust the pH to 4.5 or slightly above. If you have brought your plants outdoors, chances are they may bring in pests and diseases to your grow medium. Consider using a rock wool starter while placing seeds in the nursery tray.
Do not forget to soak the rock wool before adding seeds. Put it on the domes, and keep the pH level around 4.5. When your seedlings have grown into plants, put them in separate pots, and keep the pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

How Fast Do Hydroponic Tomatoes Grow

With the beginning of hydroponic growing systems, people who love tomato plants’ fruits no longer have to wait for summer or fall to bite into a vine-ripened tomato. They can do it all year and in any U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone. The number of vine-ripened tomato fruits to expect from a hydroponic garden depends on several factors.
The classic average yield for hydroponic tomatoes is about 40 pounds (18.14 kg) per square foot per year. The departure may be less than that if your tomato plants lack the appropriate care and nutrients. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, growers can get 46 to 50 pounds (22.68 kg) per 1.4 square feet (0.13 m²) under optimum conditions.

Hydroponics tomato vs. soil grow tomato

Hydroponic tomatoes are grown in indoor facilities and are known as soil-less tomato growing methods. Hydroponic tomatoes are preferable because of the advantages the growing method has compared to the soil-grown method. Hydroponics tomato growing method saves space and water, fewer pests and diseases are concerned, faster-growing time, and easier to supervise the whole process. Hydroponics tomatoes can be grown in solution and medium culture. Soil-grown tomatoes are tomatoes grown in natural soil. Soil is nature’s first pick, so good quality soil has a good balance of essential nutrients, which helps tomatoes grow. For soil grown methods choosing good quality, soil is the first step, to begin with.

Dutch Bucket Hydroponic Tomatoes

Dutch Bucket System works on an exciting principle based on flowing nutrient solution to different individual plants covered by buckets like objects. In hydroponic systems, it can be used as a medium to maintain the nutrition system properly. It works on a special principle named the ‘Drain and Flow’ system.

In this system, some average-sized buckets are placed in a row. In each bucket, only one plant can be placed. These buckets contain growing media, which helps the plants steadily. One large bucket is used to maintain water and nutrients. Generally, a submersible pump is used to flow the water and nutrients to the plants via connecting lines. Each of the buckets has an elbow like a pipe, which is associated with the large bucket by an alternative line. As a result, after feeding the plants, the extra nutrients came back to the large bucket.
Growing hydroponic tomatoes in a Dutch Bucket can be more comfortable and profitable. But technical matters should be taken care of properly. Excellent outputs can be made by using the Dutch Bucket system.

PPM for Hydroponic Tomatoes

PPM or Parts Per Million is a vital matter to supply nutrients to the tomato plants. Although it is understood generally that the PPM needed for plants varies, there is a standard measurement to provide the PPM. Some experts say that some elements differ in many features, but as a whole, they can be said as the same.
In this measurement, Nitrogen is said to be 140 PPM. In this way, Phosphorus 50 PPM, Potassium 350 PPM, Magnesium 50 PPM, Ca 150 PPM, and Sulfur 150 PPM are said to be provided. Although many experts say that Nitrogen should be 150 PPM and Potassium shouldn’t be more than 280 PPM.
Many other measurements are said to be provided, but they are not entirely different from this standard.

Hydroponic Tomato Seeds Where to Buy

Nowadays, hydroponic tomato seeds are available almost everywhere. Big agricultural corporations and fertilizer companies provide hydroponic tomato seeds at a profitable price. Not only that, but many worldwide companies also offer these seeds by means of global connection. Alibaba.com and amazon.com are one of these international companies.
In Bangladesh, ACI Fertilizer and Ispahani Agro Limited provide hydroponic tomato seeds. Although hydroponic cultivation in Bangladesh is still introduction stage, it has excellent opportunities here.

Hydroponic Cherry Tomatoes

Cherry Tomatoes are a kind of small tomatoes that are made by using genetic technology. It is said that it has the qualities of both wild and domestic tomatoes.

The hydroponic system can cultivate Cherry Tomatoes. Like the Dutch Bucket system, a new hydroponic named ‘Bag system’ is being used in the USA to grow cherry tomatoes. In this system, the nutrient mixer is used instead of water. This is something different from traditional hydroponics. Water is provided by a drip emitter. In this system, moisture has to be taken care of properly.

Best Tomatoes for Hydroponics

A hydroponic system can be proved the best for tomatoes. But certain things should be taken care of. If these can be appropriately done, hydroponics can give you the best output.
The supply of nutrients should be maintained carefully and adequately. Any small mistake can ruin the whole project.
The temperature should be appropriately controlled from the stage of seeds to plants. Research says that optimum temperature is one of the best keys to getting the best tomatoes.
Humidity is an essential factor. Oversupply of eater or lesser water, both are not useful for tomatoes.
Controlling of PPM and pH of the system should be maintained carefully.
Seeds of tomatoes should be chosen carefully. It is seen that the worst seeds often ruin sound hydroponic systems.
The supply of too many nutrients at an early age can harm the plant. So, proper care in this stage is necessary.

Things to consider for choosing Grow light for Hydroponic tomatoes

We know that plants can’t grow without light. Plants make their food using sunlight. This process is called photosynthesis. When you are going to produce your hydroponic tomatoes, the matter of lights should be taken care of as well.
Here comes the question of choosing the proper source of light. In indoor cultivation issues, florescent or many other kinds of light sources are not suitable for plants. Because these sources can’t provide the necessary spectra of sunlight, only LED (Light Emitting Diode) sources can provide those spectra.
Some essential issues should be thought about when LED light sources will be chosen. These light sources emit heat; this can change the plant physiology. Again, an LED light source with a semiconductor chip of fewer than 3 watts can’t fill up the plants’ light needs. So, these things are very crucial when the light source of the plants would be taken.

FAQs about Hydroponic Tomatoes

How long does it take to grow hydroponic tomatoes?

If cultivated well, Hydroponic Tomatoes take 40 to 50 days to produce proper output. At least 1 or 2 months would be taken to achieve ripen tomatoes.

What is the best hydroponic system for tomatoes?

Generally, Deep culture hydroponic system is followed at a large scale to grow tomatoes. But it is not the only method. AISI hydroponics, DWC hydroponics, general Hydroponics GH4830 Complete Power Grower, and general Hydroponics GH4120 water farm grow kit are also considered to be suitable hydroponic systems for tomatoes.

Can you grow tomato plants in water?

Yes, tomato plants can be grown in a water system if proper nutrients are given. But appropriate methods should be applied to keep the plants steady and firm.

How much water do hydroponic tomatoes need?

In a hydroponic system, about 2.5 gallons (9.46 liters) of nutrients are needed for each plant. This factor indicates that double the amount of water would be required to grow well.

Do hydroponic tomatoes taste good?

Of course, it tastes good. If proper nutrients and other crucial factors can be fixed, hydroponic tomatoes can be as delicate and delicious as soil-grown tomatoes.

Can you grow tomatoes without soil?

Generally, plants need soil to fulfill their nutritional needs. If other ways can give proper nutrients, the necessity of soil can be reduced.

How much sunlight do Tomatoes need?

Full-grown tomato plants need at least 8 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Why are the leaves curling on my tomato plant?

Tomato viruses, high wind flow, broad mite damage, and heavy dust can cause this problem to tomato plants.

How can I make my tomato plants grow faster?

Giving proper nutrients, protecting young plants from insects, maintaining temperature properly, and managing heat over plants can promote tomato plants’ fastest growth rate.

Summery

Of course, everybody loves tomatoes. Perhaps it’s one of the most widely used vegetables around the world. That’s why its demand is growing higher day by day. That’s why people are cultivating it in different ways. The hydroponic system is achieving popularity to grow tomatoes day by day. It’s easy, and indeed, it’s fruitful if appropriately used. In a hydroponic system, the qualities of tomatoes can be maintained according to one’s demand.

For this, the number of nutrients should be carefully nurtured. Generally, tomatoes don’t need too many nutrients when they are in the seed stage. Only water is sufficient to keep the seeds well. When the seedlings of tomatoes are grown from seeds, a little amount of nutrients is needed. In this stage, too many nutrients can spoil the growth of the plants. So, it’s not fair to provide unnecessary nutrients to the seedlings.

When the plants are well grown and prepared to give fruits, the number of nutrients should be increased. In this period, the matter of light should be maintained properly. When the tomatoes are visible, nutrients can be provided at a full scale. Hydroponic tomatoes can give the best output if proper care is undertaken. But it has some shortcomings too. Despite that, it can be an excellent example of growing fruits in a creative way.

Conclusion:

The Hydroponic system is not only good for producing foods only. It is an eco-friendly way in many respects. Recently, hydroponic tomatoes are achieving more popularity than ever. It can be a creative way to cultivate vegetables if proper research is done. Not only that, the hydroponic system can revolutionize our agriculture system if careful attempts can be taken.

What Are The Uses Of Solar Generator Experts Don’t Want You To Know | Using A Solar Generator For Your House (A Complete Guide)

Atiqur Rahman Mollick
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What Are The Uses Of Solar Generator Experts Don’t Want You To Know | Using A Solar Generator For Your House (A Complete Guide)

As we know, a solar generator is the central part of our life because we need electricity to lead our life. For that reason, we got to know the uses of solar generator.

If there’s one thing most people can decide on, electricity is a fundamental need. It supports us to power anything from daily devices such as smartphones and TVs to essential medical tools and food storage techniques.

So, if you need to know the best uses of solar generator, then we need to learn about the solar generator kit, which can help you a lot.

Let’s jump into the main topic and see What The Uses Of Solar Generator Experts Don’t Want You To Know.

why do I need a solar generator?

You can say with no trouble that solar generators are the ultimate portable small powerhouse.

With the continued technological advancement of renewable energy, mass people turn to solar generators as it is a sustainable and environment-friendly (green/clean) power source.

The solar generator reduces the emission of smelly or exhaust gasses, noxious fumes, greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide, and toxic gasses such as sulfur dioxide.

Solar power generators are reliable since they can provide sufficient power if your electricity goes out.

You may ask, is it portable enough for your needs?

⦁ All the accessories are integrated into one compact package yet quite a lightweight set to carry around.

⦁ Solar power generators are easy to set up. You don’t require any electrical skills or much expertise to operate your solar generator. You don’t need to connect wires or make any such extra arrangements before you can use it.

And that raises the question, what is a solar generator & how does it work?

How does a solar generator work

Overview of a solar generator?

A solar generator is essentially a portable power station with a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel, rechargeable battery, charge controller, and, inverter.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) Panels

It converts photons of the sun into electricity.

Battery

A solar power generator battery just stores the electricity for employment afterward.

Inverter

Electricity from the battery goes through an inverter that converts the Direct Current (DC) from solar PV panels into Alternative Current (AC) to power up several of appliances.

The inverters rating suggests the limit of a solar generator. The inverters rating is the maximum watt it can withdraw at a time from the solar generators.

You cannot improve the limit unless you buy an upgraded solar generator.

Before you get a solar power generator, determine the energy requirements for the appliances you may want to power at any given time in the future.

Charge Controller

The produced electricity from PV panels passes through the charge controller. It adjusts the quantity of power flows to the rechargeable battery and regulates the solar generator battery’s overcharging phenomenon.

Solar generators need no fuel as long as the power source is the sunlight. The critical components of a standard solar generator are a battery, charge controller, and inverter.

So, can it be charged by a wall socket, car outlets, and solar panels as well?

The overcast or stormy conditions cannot dictate the advancement of solar generators’ comprehensive establishment. The stored energy in the battery supplies electricity on demand.

But what happens if cloudy weather persists for a more extended period? Or the seasonal cycle continues with little to no sun; how do you charge a solar generator then?

You can recharge the solar generators with power sources other than sun energy (solar panels).

Suppose the solar radiation in your region is not adequate. In that case, you can employ the grid power (standard wall sockets) or even conventional carports (12 Volts) to recharge the solar generator kits.

The battery capacity of solar generators: how much power do you need?

Size of solar generator Wattage Capacity
Small 10-250
Medium 250-1,000
Large 1,000-10,000

What can a solar generator power and what cannot?

Most solar generators on the market can generate 900 – 5,000 or even up to 10,000 watts of power in an hour.

The solar power generator kits with higher wattage capacity can deliver consistent backup power for basic brief emergencies such as power outages for around 24 hours or less.

But the basic small and medium solar generators cannot provide adequate power for more long-term power outages if the power system breakdowns or a major natural disaster occurs.

In the event of a power outage or connection with the power grid discontinues, the backup (standby) solar generators can support the basic home electronic components.

So, are there some best portable solar generators that will make you an emergency hero?

How can we use solar energy at home with or without grid power?

A typical residence requires 5,000 – 6,000 watts of solar power to be independent of the grid.

The number and size of solar panels regulate the amount of electricity a solar system can produce. An unsatisfactorily sun energy as well restricts you to run the whole lot you need regularly.

Continuous freezing or powering air-conditioner, microwave, etc., off-grid is critic

With an ultra-high-capacity large solar-powered generator, you can power heavy electronic devices.

A solar generator can power an electric blanket for a few hours in a day if the generator is employed for the item dedicatedly.

The solar generators can’t operate smoothly on

⦁ power-hungry electric equipment or

⦁ devices with heating elements

You can barely run a high-wattage stove, washing machine, microwave, sump pump, etc.

Suppose you are in an isolated area and want to live on your own
from the power grid. If you desire to power several home appliances completely off-grid, it’s rather unlikely that a small or medium solar generator could get you off the grid.

An estimation: how will a solar generator power a freezer, air-conditioner & other heavy devices?

A standard 1500-watt solar generator has only a capacity range of 200-400 watts unless you have an enormous-sized battery.

⦁ If the refrigerator takes over 1,500 watt-hours in a day, the solar power generator can only power it for a few hours. It will entirely drain the battery in just a day.
⦁ Discharging the battery entirely (i.e., 100%) significantly damages the lifespan, even if you have lithium batteries of 2,000 cycles.

You should instead use 50% or less energy for a better lifecycle of your storage device.

⦁ A conventional 10,000 BTU air-conditioner requires a minimum of 2,200 watts to start itself.
⦁ And a typical electric water heater consumes 4,500 starting watts.

A portable or standby solar generator will not be able to run these devices legally.

You can employ multiple solar generators i.e., multiply the capacity by chaining additional compatible batteries or built a customized piece yourself to have high enough capacity for running an air conditioner or microwave oven.

You need to assess the energy needs (watt-hour) precisely to pick the right solar generators. It is essential to evaluate your needs and determine your refrigerator’s power consumption to find the right home solar power system for your needs.

If you have a battery of 50 ampere-hour rating and your refrigerator use up to 1 ampere/hour (on average), then your storage device can supply power for around 24 hours.

You need to calculate the energy requirements (watt-hour) to pick the best right solar generators for your refrigerator.

– An average refrigerator use-up 150 – 400 watts.

– A larger solar generator of 1800-2000 Watt, with several 100 Ampere-hour batteries and 150-200 Watts of Solar, can power your fridge if it is the only appliance connected to the generator.

The uses of solar generator

Power indoor

Solar generators are well-designed to run small home devices and appliances.

Solar generators are particularly impressive for appliances that don’t require a lot of electricity to run.

i. Kitchen appliances

Toaster, coffee makers, blender, etc.
ii. Small household appliances

Hairdryers, mosquito killer lamps, home alarm systems, lamps, etc.

Power outdoor

The solar generators feature adjustable output ports that can charge several pieces of equipment during regular outdoor activities.

The uses of solar generators at parties, picnic spots, and parks keep the events calm and composed.

They are great for tourists and hobbyists because of their ease of portability features.

i. Garden power tool

Run electric lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, etc.

ii. Recreational Vehicle (RV)

An all-in-one solar generator kit is an exceptionally travel-friendly package.

The solar panels, rechargeable battery, inverter, charge controller, etc., are all packaged as one in the basic construction of a solar generator.

You can put your solar generator kit either horizontally or vertically with no inconvenience in your RV.

You can power vent fan or mini refrigerator to preserve your food as well.

iii. Flexible uses of solar generator

A solar generator kit weighs only a few pounds.

You can take it along with you to fishing, boating, or a construction site to charge a couple of small power electrical tools on the go.

iv. Lights & bulbs

You can use it to power a few lights and LED bulbs in your garden in the evening.

Emergencies

Solar generators are usually provided with water-proof or weather-resistant casing.

A well-built and robust solar generator kit is durable even in critical conditions.

i. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

They are a viable option for electrifying health care centers in emergency scenarios—for instance, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

ii. Flood evacuation centers

Solar Generators can operate securely in dangerous settings such as in flood evacuation centers.

Off-grid living

Solar generators are the best plug and power means for versatile off-grid applications.

i. Telecommunications

Charging radios and cellular phones to help you stay connected

ii. Services

Farming and other agricultural purposes

iii. Tour, travel, or camping

As soon as you get your solar generator kit out of the case, you can just plug and play.

Thus, you can take a portable solar generator kit for long road trips, more extended tours, traveling, or camping.

Digital devices

Solar generators are an ideal power station to charge up small electronic devices.

Small laptops, notebooks, PCs, tablets, small televisions, digital cameras, drones, smartphones, game consoles, etc.
You might wonder at this point, how are solar generators quiet in the event of indoor & outdoor activities or an emergency?

⦁ Solar generators don’t generate power, unlike conventional gas- or diesel-powered generators. They don’t have any standard engine and moving parts.
⦁ The solar generators produce absolutely no sound during their operation. Thus, the uses of solar generators limit sound pollution immensely

Conclusion: how are solar generators worth the money?

A solar generator is unique from the traditional fuel-powered generators.

A comprehensive solar generator kit contains all the components that work together to provide a noiseless operation.

Traditional gasoline or diesel-fueled generator requires a fuel-filled tank for a steady operation and cleaning, filter changing, etc. for proper maintenance.

Unlike the solar generator. It neither requires consistent fueling, nor heavy maintenance.

I hope you got the messages about the best uses of solar generator and it will understand to get everything about it.

Summary: why do you need a portable solar generator & is it worth the cost?

The user-friendly solar generator modules with decreasing prices and increasing efficiencies are capable of saving your money.

Whether you are in a sunny area or the climatic setting is unpromising, you can still make your solar generator relevant thanks to the solar generators’ variable recharging provisions.

You can conveniently run your small home appliances to categorical large-scale electrical components in isolated off-grid areas with this green power.

Countless instrumental uses of solar generators with or without consistent sun energy make them emerge as a standard backup power system in emergencies as well.

Why it’s Crucial to Understand How Does A Solar Cell Work? This Will Help You To Go For Solar!

Atiqur Rahman Mollick
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Why it’s Crucial to Understand How Does A Solar Cell Work? This Will Help You To Go For Solar!

If your Question is how does a solar cell work then this article will help you a lot to get proper information.

As we know, Sun is the source of vital force on earth. Every life on earth uses the power of the sun to survive. Humankind is the most dominant life form on earth. We have not only used the power of the sun to survive; now, we are harnessing its power to benefit our livelihood. Solar electricity is an example of it.

Solar electricity is renewable and free. Other traditional sources of power use some kind of fuel such as coal, petrol, and uranium (for nuclear power plants). Solar electricity is generated by sunlight. A solar cell generates electricity.

How does a solar cell create electricity? The basic principle behind a solar cell is known as the photovoltaic effect, or PV for short. In this article, we will explain the working principles and mechanism of a solar cell in detail. Also, we will discuss why solar cells are essential, and what is its future briefly.

What is Solar Cell And How Does a Solar Cell Work

A solar cell is not anything like a battery or so; it looks like a panel. The solar cell is also known as a solar panel. The most popular solar cell is made of silicon (Si). A multi-cell solar panel made of silicon can provide up to 68% efficiency. Gallium Arsenide or GaAs is another popular material used to make solar cells. Gallium and Arsenic are one atomic higher and lower in the periodic table. So, a combination of the two makes the same atomic position of silicon.

Many kinds of the solar cell are being used today; Let’s See Some Important Types of Solar cell

⦁ Crystalline silicon cell
⦁ Polycrystalline thin films
⦁ Single and multijunction cell
⦁ Amorphous cell
⦁ Di-sensitize cell
⦁ Point contact cell
⦁ Plastic solar cell
⦁ Organic solar cell
Some popular types will be discussed later in the article.

Photovoltaic Effect of Solar Cell

Solar cells use the principles of the photovoltaic effect. So before explaining the working principle, we must know what a photovoltaic effect is.
When light is exposed to certain elements, it releases free electrons by absorbing photons. Photon is the energy light carries. This phenomenon produces a direct current within the components. This property of light to create a direct current in objects is called the photovoltaic (PV) effect.

Alexander Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect or PV effect in 1839. He was a French physicist. When he was experimenting with electrodes and electrolytes, he saw that illumination increases conductivity.

The same phenomenon occurred with Willoughby Smith in selenium this time. Later, Albert Einstein explained why this phenomenon occurs. Although his equation was originally developed for the photoelectric effect, it is also applicable to the photovoltaic effect. [energysage.com]

This property of certain materials to produce electricity gave a solar cell the idea of becoming a popular source of power. Based on the research, the most suitable material for the photovoltaic effect to happen is silicon. Other materials react to the PV effect, but silicon has the best efficiency. However, Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) is another suitable replacement for silicon.

Photovoltaic Effect and Photoelectric Effect of Solar Cell

The photovoltaic effect is almost similar to the photoelectric effect. Both the photoelectric effect and photovoltaic effect absorb sunlight, and both release electrons. But some differences separate these two phenomena.

The significant difference between the two effects is that when sunlight is absorbed and free electrons are released, electrons are emitted to space. For the photovoltaic effect, electrons directly enter new materials, creating voltage in the material.

Another significant difference between the photoelectric effect and the photovoltaic effect is that kinetic energy plays a vital role in producing electricity in the photoelectric effect. The photovoltaic effect does not require the kinetic energy of the emitted electrons to produce electricity.

The electrons emitted from the photovoltaic effect are used to generate electricity through the junction of diodes, but there is no potential to generate electricity from junctional diodes. The photovoltaic effect can be seen between two metals that are junctional with each other in a system.

The photoelectric effect occurs in a cathode ray tube by a cathode and an anode connected via an external circuit. The photovoltaic effect occurs when a specific range of photon energy hits subject materials, but the photoelectric effect is difficult to occur.

Solar Cell Structure

The most efficient solar cell design to date is called the Metal Wrap Through (MWT) solar cell. It can provide a 10% higher potential efficiency. Solar cells can be made with the following materials:

⦁ Mono-crystalline silicon
⦁ Poly-crystalline silicon
⦁ Cadmium telluride film
⦁ Silicon thin film
⦁ Gallium arsenide thin film
⦁ Copper indium gallium selenide film (CIGS)

The following procedures make a typical solar cell:

Interconnection Process of Solar Cell

A general solar cell is a combination of silicon semiconductors, which about 156mm x 156mm x 600µm in dimension. The semiconductors are trimmed and consist of up to 16 laser-cut through-holes.

A PV cell consists of both n-type and p-type holes in the same plane. The through-holes are used to transport the free electrons to move around. A specific pattern interconnects the semiconductors, and this pattern is known as a printed link.

This process helps to connect top to top and bottom to the bottom of two semiconductors. The whole process is controlled mechanically.

Insulation

The next step is insulation. This process is mainly for coating the semiconductors to isolate the semiconductor from the back of the cell. There are a lot of coating materials commonly used. Mylar sheet is one of them.

It is about 7-10mm thick—another primary reason for insulation to reduce UV ray penetration. Since UV rays have highly energetic photons, it may damage the silicon semiconductors.

This process is known as UV curing. Insulation also reduces the semiconductors’ inner temperature, which accelerates conductivity and capacity to store free electrons.

Routing

Routing refers to passing the free electrons from the semiconductors to produce electricity. So it works as an internal wire. Since copper has good conductivity and low cost, it is ideal for the routing process.

The copper used for routing is 5 to 20 millimeters thick and 100 to 200 millimeters wide. Sometimes insulation patterns are changed for better efficiency of routing.

Back Panel Installation/ Lamination

The final step of making a solar complete solar cell is the installation of the back panel. The back panels are not meant to be storing any electricity. So it should be shock-proof. Mostly plastic is considered for that purpose.

But it is also a concern not to lose any plastic efficiency so other materials can be considered. The upper cell module is coated with non-electric materials to manufacture a working solar panel and is ready for producing solar electricity.

Working Principle of Solar Cell; Incredible Working Process of Solar Cell

Solar cells use the photovoltaic effect as their primary working principle. When solar radiation hits certain materials, it produces electricity. This is only the basic theory of solar cells. Let us discuss the process elaborately.

Over decades of research, scientists found that silicon (Si) is the most durable element for the photovoltaic effect. When sunray hits silicon, there are three possible outcomes

⦁ Photons go straight through silicon
⦁ Photons reflected by silicon
⦁ Photons absorbed by silicon

The first phenomenon happens when photons carry less energy. The second one occurs when photons have a specific range of energy levels.

But when a photon carries greater energy than the other two cases, it creates electron-hole pair in the silicon. This excites the electrons and set some of them free to move around. Silicon semiconductors are required to utilize this property of silicon properly in the solar cells.

A semiconductor junction consists of a region of high concentrated electrons known as n-type and low concentrated electrons, p-type. The free electrons in the semiconductor then create charge carrier motion and separation of electrons. There are two causes:

⦁ Drift of carriers
⦁ Diffusion of carriers
Drift causes electrons and holes to push separate ways from each other. Diffusion causes electrons to move from higher concentration zones to lower concentration zones.

They work opposite each other. When these two forces work simultaneously, the current of electrons is produced. The current moves toward the n-type zone of the junction and can be wired.

The current can power the electricity load until it reaches the p-type zone. The voltage of the current is equivalent to the difference between the two carriers. [pveducation.org]
The whole system can be represented by a circuit diagram of the solar cell.

Some simple formula for calculating current and voltage are:
I = IL – ID – ISH
Here,
⦁ I = output current
⦁ IL = photogenerated current
⦁ ID = diode current
⦁ ISH = shunt current
The voltage can be measured by the following equation:
VJ = V + IRS
Here,
⦁ VJ = voltage across both diode and resistor RSH
⦁ V = voltage across the output terminals
⦁ I = output current
⦁ RS = series resistance
Finally, the electricity generation formula is:
E = A * r * H * PR
Here,
⦁ E = Energy (kWh)
⦁ A = Total solar panel Area (m2)
⦁ r = solar panel yield or efficiency (%)
⦁ H = Annual average solar radiation on tilted panels (shadings not included)
⦁ PR = Performance ratio, coefficient for losses (range between 0.5 and 0.9, default value = 0.75)
Some advanced functions require a higher understanding of mathematical terms. Since they are challenging to interpret, they are not provided here. The equations are Ohm’s Law, Shockley diode equation, physical size equation of cells, etc. [pveducation.org]

Contemporary and Previous Technologies

With the advancement of science in a drastic manner, technologies of Solar cells also have advanced. Let us discuss some of the contemporary technologies and compare them with previous ones.
Today’s cells can be categorized into three types based on the technologies they are made of.
⦁ Wafer-based cells
⦁ Commercial thin films
⦁ Emerging thin films
Wafer-based cells are traditional cells that use crystalline silicon or gallium arsenide. Commercial thin films use non-crystalline amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), etc. Most advanced cells are called emerging-thin film cells. they include perovskite, quantum dot (QD), and organic cells. [energy.mit.edu]

The classical wafer-based cells can produce a fair amount of electricity. But according to some scientists, comparing them with today’s available advanced cells such as commercial cells is not very relevant. This is because a higher generation of cells may always have better performance than the previous one. But there are cases where traditional silicon cells still have some advantages over newer technologies.

But there should be some criteria that can provide a good measurement. Scientists have found some ways to compare the cells. Firstly, scientists found a way of differentiating cells by the material’s complexity in their molecular structures.

Silicon is very simple in structure. But in reality, silicon is hard to turn into a wafer or solar cell. Because to reach 100% purity for a single element is almost restricted. On the other hand, a compound has not had such a frontier to maintain purity. For QD, it can be achieved at a higher cost.

Another criterion can be the power conversion efficiency of the cells. Here, silicon is a clear victor because, to date, it can provide up to 33% efficiency with actual consistent efficiency of 26%. On the contrary, commercial thin films are locked at 10% to 20%.

But scientists are finding ways to develop a better photon absorb rate for this type of cell. Emerging thin-film cells are still in laboratory experiments in that case. Although they show promising results for smaller-scale cells, opening them for commercial usage is always a challenge.

For additional comparison, the external structure of the cells can be a factor. Traditional crystalline cells are a little heavier and require more space.

The film-structured cells are lighter, flexible, and somewhat robust in their structure. This can allow them to be portable and easily maintainable. But these are smaller details. So, it is really up to the users to decide which one is beneficial for them.

Latest Solar technologies

Although emerging commercial films can be considered the latest solar cells’ latest technology, some other technologies can be highlighted in this portion.

The light-sensitive nanoparticles are commonly known as colloidal quantum dots. A group of scientists from the University of Toronto made the discovery. They believe that is new technology can provide reduced cost and more flexibility.

Scientists claim that this technology is an outdoor functioning one, which can change the solar cell market. The basic theory is that the traditional cells, which consist of n-type semiconductors, can bind with oxygen or other materials, reducing efficiency.

But for colloidal quantum cells, there are no such issues. So it can absorb a better amount of photons. Studies showed that it could provide an 8% extra absorption rate.

Advancement in other aspects of a complete solar system can be seen too. For batteries, there are a few new theories. One of them is molten salt storage technology. The idea is to transfer the heat generation of cells to molten salt, reducing the cells’ operating temperature and increasing efficiency. [energy.mit.edu]

Another new technology for storage is a built-in battery of solar cells. This is to reduce the cost of batteries for a total solar system. It is claimed that the built-in batteries can provide 25% better storage efficiency and 20% cost reduction.

Maintenance

Here are some useful tips for solar cell maintenance:
⦁ When cleaning, use specific solar panel cleaning kits. Cleaning with the usual cleaning apparatus may harm the solar panel.

⦁ Make sure that dust does not stack on the system, whether it is the panel or the batteries.
⦁ Take necessary safety measures for dismounting panels, advised by the experts.
⦁ A performance monitoring meter is an excellent way to maintain the system.
⦁ Automated cleaners are available in the market; this can be an excellent investment to make user has less time to put on the solar system.
⦁ Keep the solar panel out of shade as they might become blunt or inactive.
⦁ Watch out for energy surges as they might damage the system, built the system in a cooler and safer place.

⦁ Keep an eye on other components such as inverters, batteries, or cables. Replace them with consultancy.
⦁ Never use harsh materials to clean solar cells as they might damage the inner structures.
⦁ Check for performance ups and downs; contact the technicians if the panels are underperforming.

Troubleshooting

Some of the common problems of solar systems and their troubleshooting process are as follows:

Loose Wiring: Many often, the wiring of the system becomes loose. This can happen for several reasons. One possible explanation can be temperature. Wires are made of plastic or rubber coating, which tends to increase with heat.

Another reason can the wires have become old. So, the troubleshooting is easy for this, change the cables, for the whole system or components. Use technicians’ directions before doing the process. [fluke.com]

System Overheating: Overheating is a problem for everything; the same goes here. Every component of a solar system should come with a reference heating manual.

If the system or any component is overheating, it means that there is something wrong with it. Contact the technician, in that case, to solve the overheating or replace the components.

Bad Connection: For bad connections, make the connections stable. Users should be able to do that by themselves with the user manual help that comes with the system. if the problem is severe, contact the system provider. [fluke.com]

Solar Cell Defect: If the solar cell becomes defective, there is nothing much a user can do since the cells are highly complex in structure. Replacing or returning the cells are the only options.

Low Voltage: if the system is giving low voltage levels despite being well operational, it might be because of shading. Check for shade on the cells and remove them if possible. Another reason for low voltage can be defective components. Seek the technician’s advice in that case.

Future development of Solar cells

⦁ Bio-solar cells: The biological solar cells or bio-solar cells are the most promising futuristic technology for solar power systems. This cell uses bacteria to increase the photon consumption rate of the cells. The particular bacteria is called cyanobacteria. They can be found almost everywhere. The technique is to produce extra electricity from the photosynthesis and respiratory activity of the bacteria. Though the production increases very little than the traditional cells, it holds outstanding potential. [altenergy.org]

⦁ Photo-bioelectrochemical cells: This is an entirely new idea for solar cells. The idea is to use the biochemical process of microbes, enzymes, and plants to enhance cell efficiency. This cell’s working principle is described in papers from the Hebrew University of Israel and the University of Bochum, Germany. But to unite photosystems with enzymes is a real challenge. [mit.edu]

⦁ Floating Solar cells: as the traditional silicon-powered solar cells are getting cheaper and more efficient, scientists proposed a floating solar farm on water bodies. The study suggests that floating PV cells can generate a huge amount of electricity. The cooling effect from water can increase power generation by up to 10% more than regular land-based cells. But the maintenance is a bit costly. A floating solar power plan already exists in California at Napa Valley.

⦁ Solar Fabric: Researchers are trying to create a solar fabric that can produce solar power on the go. The main idea is to use solar radiation everywhere since it is available everywhere. The fabric will use photovoltaic treads. Another project is to combine PV panels with solar fabric. Solar fabric may be used to charge phones on the go or even keep the cloth warm in winter. [mit.edu]

Conclusion

We hope You have got every single point how does a solar cell work. We also clarify that the solar cell is an emerging way of powering the earth. To better understand society’s needs, people should know more about solar cells and how they work. Also, knowledge of solar cells will help users understand their value and usage capacity.

This knowledge needs to be spread because the world is in ever need of electricity. One day the traditional means of producing electricity will stop because of scarcity.

Solar cells can produce renewable electricity; it is also a cheaper way of producing power. It is ideal for an individual power supply. So the knowledge of solar cells and solar systems is necessary.

Off Grid Solar Power Systems Secrets | Which one Is the best Between 12 Volt Vs 24 Volt Solar System

Atiqur Rahman Mollick
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Off Grid Solar Power Systems Secrets | Which one Is the best Between 12 Volt Vs 24 Volt Solar System

Are you looking for off grid solar power systems?

Or might be you want to know 12 volt vs 24 volt solar system which can make your mind for suitable one. No worries! today, we are going to talk about Comparison of 12 Volt vs 24 Volt Solar System Voltage for Off Grid Solar Power Systems.

As we know, Solar cells are a popular source of power today. But the total efficiency of this source depends upon the systems that are used for electricity. The 12 volts solar system is called the traditional system as it has been used for a while now. Compared to that, the 24 volts solar system is newer but with more potential.

The central aspect of this article is finding which system is better for off-grid use, 12 volts system or 24 volts system, from the narrating of the pros and cons, you can conclude which power system is a better option for off-grid usage. However, it is up to the users to decide which one they need.

Solar energy is a popular source of power nowadays because it is free and renewable. But this concept still needs to walk a long path for commercial use. Today, we use solar energy for small consumption of power, like for homes or recreational vehicles. In many countries, solar energy is used for traffic control purposes.

Traditional cells usually can produce 12 volts. With the advancement of technology, we now have cells with higher capacity. In this article, we will discuss the traditional 12 volts system and 24 volts system, their use, and their advantages and disadvantages.

12-volt cells were considered a standard before the introduction of new technologies. Today, 24 volts and 48 volts systems are more popular. The basic difference between 12 volts and 24 volts systems is that 24 volts systems can produce more electricity than 12 volts. Since the cost-benefit relationship’s efficiency is a vital tool of measurement, we will discuss them briefly in later sections of the article.

Solar power is excluded from grid production mostly because it has not seen any large-scale application yet. Since it is cheap and renewable, researchers are showing promise for developing solar energy systems. 24 volts solar systems hold more significant potential than 12 volts systems. That is why a comparison between these two systems is necessary.

What is a Solar Cell?

A solar cell is a panel mostly made of silicon. This panel works by the principles of the photovoltaic effect. When sunray hits the panel, it directly converts light energy to electrical energy. It does not require any chemical reaction to produce electricity. Instead, it uses photons (light energy) to produce DC voltage directly. The solar cell, also known as photovoltaic cells.

Solar cells or PV cells are of 2 kinds, p-type cells, and n-type cells. The p-type cells use p-type semiconductors. N-type uses n-type semiconductors. The semiconductors are made of silicon as it provides better efficiency than any other materials. Although Gallium Arsenide is also a popular material. [news.energysage.com]

The first-ever cell was built in 1889, which yielded only 1% efficiency. But today, a general solar cell can provide 33% efficiency. The most popular system of solar power system is 12 volts. But there are higher voltage systems with 24 volts and 48 volts. 12 volts system is commonly used for boats and recreational vehicles, while the other systems can be used for houses or plants.

History of Off Grid Solar Power Systems

The development of solar power energy began as early as 1839, with the discovery of the photovoltaic effect by French physicist Alexander Edmond Becquerel

Father of solar cell, Edmond Becquerel. celebrityborn.com
In 1875, William Grylls Adams saw that if selenium is exposed to the sunlight, it will produce electricity.

Charles Fritts built the first complete solar cell about 50 years after Becquerel’s discovery. He used a selenium semiconductor with a thin gold coating. Though his cells could only transform 1% of light energy to electric energy, he is known for his vision of this clean, renewable energy. [energysage.com]

In 1953, 3 scientists, Calvin Fuller, Gerald Pearson, and Daryl Chapin, invented the silicon made solar cell. This time, the cells would produce enough electricity to power small electric machines.

Three years later, the first-ever commercial solar cell was launched. It would cost about $300 per watt, and only the rich people could buy it.

In the late 1950s and 1960s, the USA and the Soviet Union used solar cells for their space missions. It became a common source of power for spacecraft later in the decade.

By the 1970s, cost minimization of the cells became possible, and it would cost only 20 dollars per watt. Exxon made this cost-lowering possible. [energysage.com]
From 1970 to 1990, solar cells gained more popularity. Today’s technologies are somewhat similar to the late 90s.

Today a usual solar power system would cost about 2 to 3 dollars per watt and provide up to 33% efficiency.

Solar Cell Design

A typical solar cell is 10 cm x 10 cm. The main section is made of silicon with glass or plastic edging. One cell alone can only produce 15 to 20 percent of the energy that inflicts on its body. Multiple cells are installed in series or parallel combinations to increase power generation. Usually, a complete solar system consists of cells, cable circuits, storage batteries, converter or inverter, voltage controller, etc. [britannica.com]

Gallium Arsenide is also a popular material for building solar cells. This material provides almost the same efficiency as silicon-powered cells. The following process produces the cells:
⦁ Interconnect process: This is the first step. In this process, materials are interconnected in the cells. Both p-type and n-type connections are made.
⦁ Insulation process: Next, the materials are insulated in the cell sheet.
⦁ Routing process: The insulations are routed according to the need is this phase.
⦁ Back panel installation: In this phase, back panels are installed. Usually, the back panels are shockproof and work as the baseplate of the cell.

Working Principles of Solar Power Systems

Solar power systems use the principles of the photovoltaic (PV) effect. When sun rays hit certain materials, they absorb photons and release free electrons. This produces a direct current within the cells.

That direct current is then transformed into alternating current through converters. The panels can produce little electricity each. Modern systems use concentrated solar power—arrays of mirror concentrate sunray. The concentrated sunray is then exposed to a solar tower, which can produce more power.

The PV effect is similar to the photoelectric effect. But the main difference is PV effect releases electrons within the material, which generates electricity, and the photoelectric effect releases electrons in space. [energysage.com]

Working principle of a solar cell. solarcells.com
There are three solar power systems. They are:
⦁ Direct solar power systems
⦁ Off-grid solar power systems
⦁ Grid-connected systems

An off-grid solar system. embetronsolar.com
The general formula for calculating annual electricity production from a solar system is:
E = A * r * H * PR
Here,
E = Energy (kWh)
A = Total solar panel Area (m2)
r = solar panel yield or efficiency (%) 
H = Annual average solar radiation on tilted panels (shadings not included)
PR = Performance ratio, coefficient for losses (range between 0.5 and 0.9, default value = 0.75)
[pveducation.org]

12 volts and 24 volts systems

12 volts systems are the most popular solar power systems to date. It is mainly used for recreational vehicles (RV) and boats. 12 volts systems use standard components like 12 volts solar panels (cells), storage batteries, inverters, cables, etc. Usually, the elements are arranged within close distance, usually 50 feet. This system only uses 12 volts deep cycle batteries and 4-gauge wire cables; it can pass up to 60 amperes current without voltage loss. But longer cable may reduce efficiency because of resistance. The solar charge controller is used for 12 volts systems, and the components are installed parallelly. As mentioned, this system applies to a small demand for energy.

Compared to that, 24 volts systems are relatively new, and they are used when power demand is more significant or can travel a greater distance than 50 feet. Unlike 12 volts systems, it can fulfill power demand for small house operations.

24 volts systems can use the same components as 12 volts systems. How? By merely changing circuit orientation. If 12 volts system components are installed in a series orientation, it will work as 24 volts.

But separate system components are available for 24 volts systems today, with 24 volts panels, batteries, inverters, etc. [quora.com]

⦁ For both systems, the principle is the same. But there are some differences, such as:12 volts system components are closely oriented, usually within 50 meters. But 24 volts system can cover a greater distance.
⦁ 24 volts systems can produce more power than 12 systems.
⦁ One can build a 24 volts system with 12 volts system components, but the reverse process will reduce efficiency drastically.
⦁ 24 volts systems can be installed to power small house operations but for 12 volts systems, the usage limit stops for boats and RVs.
⦁ Apart from other components, inverters will have to be separate for each system.
⦁ 12 volts solar panel can produce up to 180 watts, whereas 24 panels can produce up to 400 watts.

Comparison of 12 volts systems and 24 volts systems

Now that we have discussed the fundamental differences between the two systems let us discuss each system’s advantages and disadvantages.

12 Volts System Advantages

⦁ Firstly, 12 volts system components are cheaper and readily available. Users will not have to search for the parts intensely.
⦁ Most of the home appliances will not need more than 12 volts to operate, so there is no extra voltage.
⦁ Since 12 volts systems are closely packed, users will not need a huge space to install the system and also provide excellent efficiency.
⦁ This system is very easy to maintain because components of this system are widely available.
⦁ 12 volts systems are easy to scale; users can add more panels and batteries without shedding any sweat.

12 Volts System Disadvantages

⦁ As the components are designed for 12 volts systems only, batteries and regulators can not step up easily to a higher voltage.
⦁ Wiring systems for 12 volts components are expensive compared to higher voltage systems.
⦁ 12 volts systems are closely oriented, so users can not stretch the system without losing efficiency.

24 Volts System Advantages

⦁ A 24 volts system significantly reduces wiring costs more than the traditional 12 volts system because increased voltage reduces the current through the wire passage. So, the user will need fewer cables, saving the rest.
⦁ 24 volts systems are more reliable for AC appliances, and most of the machines today are designed to work with AC.
⦁ Users can easily step the voltage down in a 24 volts system to match the machine’s need, using a regulator.
⦁ Users can build a 24 volts system with 12 volts system components. When 12 volts panels are oriented in a series combination, they will work as 24 volts panels. Batteries will have to be arranged in the same way. However, the solar charge controller will not work in the same way.
⦁ Compared to the 12 volts system that uses a solar charge controller, the inverter is cheaper to use in 24 volts.
⦁ More voltage heats the wire, which raises conductivity, providing efficiency.

24 Volts System Disadvantages

⦁ Since most home appliances can work with 12 volts, 24 volts systems somewhat overproduce voltage and have to step down in such cases.
⦁ Components of 24 volts system can be hard to find in local stores, but it does not count as a problem with the progress of online shopping.
⦁ 24 volts system can be annoying for RVs or boats because users will have to step down voltage, which may cost extra money.

From the above discussion where both systems have their pros and cons, it is difficult to provide one suggestion for every situation. But it is clear that for smaller power consumption, 12 volts system is a better option. That is why traditional 12-volt systems are more popular. But the power demand is rising every day.

This leaves less room for 12 volts systems. Moreover, the 24 volts system has some competitive advantages over the traditional system. So, the 24 volts system is more acceptable for today’s situation. But again, users must define their needs and select a power system later. [kyocera.com]

Installation and Maintenance of Solar Power Systems

Although the difference between voltage levels, every solar system has somewhat the same installation process. Usually, distinguished engineers do the work for the clients; the process is as follows:

⦁ First of all, the user has to find the sweet spot he wants to install the system, on the roof or the yard, or anywhere else.
⦁ When the installation place is fixed, mounting of the panel support system commences. The system is tilted up to 18 to 38 degrees. This angle creates to expose the panels to gain maximum sunlight.
⦁ Mount the panels on the support system tightly
⦁ Next, wire the panels.
⦁ After finishing wiring, solar inverters and chargers should be installed. Usually, they remain close to the mounted panels to balance efficiency.
⦁ Attach solar batteries with inverters and chargers. Batteries are used to store power for rainy/cloudy days.
⦁ The final installation task is to connect the batteries and inverters to the house’s main power line. A meter is usually attached to the system to monitor power generation.
⦁ The system should be ready for usage. [altenergy.org]
Off-grid solar power systems need very little maintenance. But once or twice in a year, the user may do the following things:
⦁ Clean the panels to maintain sunlight absorbance of the panels.
⦁ Avoid cleaning with cold water as it might damage the heated panels.
⦁ Check the condition of the inverters and batteries.
⦁ Change wiring when necessary.

Facts about Solar Power Systems

Here are some interesting facts about solar power systems:
⦁ Solar power is the most available and renewable source of energy on Earth.
⦁ Today solar panel costs $0.39 per watt, falling about 99% percent from the first invention of solar panels which cost $77 per watt.
⦁ A solar power system can last up to 44 years easily.
⦁ Energy from solar power plants is cheaper than fossil fuel and natural gas.
⦁ China is the leading country to utilize solar power by a great margin, producing about 50 gigawatts of power a year.
⦁ Most of the solar power plants in the USA are situated in California.
⦁ Solar energy systems are one of the fastest-growing sources of energy worldwide.
⦁ Solar panels are so popular that you might find a solar power system near your home or workplace.
⦁ The solar power system is pollution-free.
⦁ Solar panels are even used in space stations. [conserve-energy-future.com]

Futuristic technologies for solar power systems

Let us have a look at the next-generation solar power systems.

⦁ Bio-solar cells: The biological solar cells or bio-solar cells are the most promising futuristic technology for solar power systems. This cell uses bacteria to increase the photon consumption rate of the cells. The particular bacteria is called cyanobacteria. They can be found almost everywhere. The technique is to produce extra electricity from the photosynthesis and respiratory activity of the bacteria. Though the production increases very little than the traditional cells, it holds outstanding potential.

⦁ Photo-bioelectrochemical cells: This is an entirely new idea for solar cells. The idea is to use the biochemical process of microbes, enzymes, and plants to enhance cell efficiency. This cell’s working principle is described in papers from the Hebrew University of Israel and the University of Bochum, Germany. But to unite photosystems with enzymes is a real challenge. [mit.edu]

⦁ Floating Solar cells: as the traditional silicon-powered solar cells are getting cheaper and more efficient, scientists proposed a floating solar farm on water bodies. The study suggests that floating PV cells can generate a tremendous amount of electricity. The cooling effect from water can increase power generation by up to 10% more than normal land-based cells. But the maintenance is a bit costly. A floating solar power plan already exists in California at Napa Valley.

⦁ Solar Fabric: Researchers are trying to create a solar fabric that can produce solar power on the go. The main idea is to use solar radiation everywhere since it is available around. The material will use photovoltaic treads. Another project is to combine PV panels with solar fabric. Solar material may be used to charge phones on the go or even keep the cloth warm in winter. [mit.edu]

⦁ Concentrated solar sunray: Today, solar cells can only utilize up to 40% of the sunray. But a focused beam of solar rays can technically increase the efficiency of the cells. The rays can be concentrated by mirroring the rays toward the panels. Numerous companies like IBM and others have already tested this technology. It promises great potential.

Conclusion

We have made a workable comparison of the standard 12 volts solar power systems and 24 volts systems. We found that the 24 volts systems surpass the traditional systems thinning a thin margin from the discussion.

The main advantage 24 volts system has over the 12 volts system is its cost-effectiveness. Since both methods are commonly used for off-grid purposes, cost-effectiveness is a real issue.

Moreover, 24 volts system produces a surplus which can be stored to use later. The traditional 12 volts system is more compatible with small appliances, but a simple inverter can step down the house’s voltage. So, this cannot be considered a significant advantage. Also, the traditional systems can not produce as much as 24 volts systems. All in all, the 24 volts system should be the better choice.

Even a few years back, solar panels were not that much popular as it is today. But the usage and awareness spread made it a reliable source of off-grid power. Today, 24 volts system holds more potential than the traditional 12 volts system.

So, users should be more aware of what they want and which system they should choose. The answer should be the 24 volts solar power systems.

A Detailed Explanation of “For how Long Can a Solar Generator Run?”

Atiqur Rahman Mollick
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A Detailed Explanation of “For how Long Can a Solar Generator Run?”

Before buying a solar generator, you need to know what size will suit your needs. There are so many different options to choose from in the market, that knowing which one is right for you can be quite overwhelming.

Take Bluetti, for example, we already sell about 9 different solar generators, all with different capacities. So, how do you know which size solar generator is right for you? In this article, we will explain How long can a solar generator run?

How long can a solar generator run?

When someone is looking for a solar generator, one of the most crucial points is to know how long solar-powered generators last? For this reason, here in this article, you will have a detailed explanation of “for how long can a solar generator run?”. Let’s find out in this article.

The portable solar energy generators are apparent evidence of the transformation of energy usage to numerous renewable energy fields. You can run lights, and fans, heat the water, or your room for survival with this clean energy during emergencies such as power outages.

Let’s find out how long can a solar generator run, find out the better solar power or generator, the longevity of solar generator last, and its uses in different appliances.

What is the best off-grid generator: A portable solar power system?

Consider your area goes off-grid due to a thunderstorm. Suppose the solar generator battery drains within hours, and there isn’t sufficient sunlight to charge the battery.

In that case, you’ll have rotten foods in the fridge.

A solar generator is merely a rechargeable battery but revolutionary for its-

Lightweight / Maximum portability

Solar power generators are a compact system without requiring any roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.

Expandability

The multiple input options (to recharge the battery) and multiple output options (AC plug, USB, carport) of solar-powered generators make them a perfect companion for traveling a long distance (in RV or otherwise), camping, boating, or fishing in lakes.

How do I choose a solar generator: What is the most efficient generator?

Look for the solar generator rating. It is a measurement of power (maximum watts) that the solar powered generator can deliver over an ideal time.

The wattage (max) of the inverter plays a significant role in your solar generator as most electronic devices employ AC.

Manufacturers use inverter rating as solar portable generator rating since the inverter rating is the highest limit of how much power the AC appliances can pull.

You do not need a massive inverter but a compatible one with your solar generator battery.

A charge controller of MPPT (maximum power point tracking) specification, enables the solar generator to be portable and more efficient.

Technical specification

Photovoltaic (PV) conversion The solar panels convert sunlight (photons) into energy.
Energy storage A charge controller regulates the flow of generated energy from the solar cells to batteries.
AC to DC transformation The battery-stored energy runs across an inverter. It transforms direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC).

⦁ If the rating (capacity) of a particular solar generator unit is 2000 watts and the capacity of the battery is 100 Ah (12V), it means

⦁ The unit can run (uninterruptedly)
an appliance of 2000 watts
Or, multiple devices of 2000 watts

⦁ The 100 Ah battery of 12 V can supply
100 amperes for 1 hour,
Or, 1 ampere for 100 hours, etc.

These ratings and specifications are just an initial screening to determine the most efficient solar portable generator for your needs. But they don’t make it quite clear whether I require a heavy-duty solar generator or not, do they?

How long does a solar generator last (run time)?

Now that you are familiar with the efficacy of solar generators, let me start the central piece: A detailed explanation of “For how long can a solar generator run?”

. Run time: A measurement of how long a portable solar energy generator functions to power electronic appliances by the recharged battery.

Run time (max hours) = The capacity of the solar generator (watt-hours) / Power required for the device (watts)

⦁ Usable watt-hours: Usable watt-hours of a solar power generator is the most important indicator of how long does a solar generator lasts.

Volts x Ah = watt-hours

Your specified electrical equipment may require an uninterrupted supply of power that might deplete battery charge in no time.

But draining 100% of any conventional batteries reduces lifespan and increases the rate of battery damage.

Usable watt-hours (recommended)
Lithium batteries 90 % of battery capacity (watt-hours)
Lead-acid batteries 60 % of battery capacity (watt-hours)

Usable watt-hours for a 100 Ah lead-acid battery of 12 V becomes, = Volts x Ah x 60 %
= 12 x 100 x 60/100
= 720

Incandescent bulbs

⦁ You can run
seven 100-watt bulbs for an hour
Or, you can run fourteen 100-watt bulbs for 30 minutes.

CFL (Compact fluorescent lamps) bulbs

⦁ Your solar powered generator can power
two 25-watt bulbs for 14.4 hours

⦁ Conversely, the number of CFL bulbs the solar generator can power for 14.4 hours on your 100 Ah, 12V battery
= 720 watt-hours / (14.4 hours x 25 watts)
= 2 bulbs.

LED (Light-emitting diode) bulbs

⦁ Likewise, your solar generator can power nine 16-watt LED bulbs for 5 hours.

A solar portable generator’s efficiency comes down to your energy requirement and battery capacity (size and type).

⦁ You can’t expect a 50 watt solar generator to backup power at home unless you want to sit idle in the dark!

⦁ A heavy-duty solar generator of at least 4500 usable watt-hours and inverter rating beyond 3000w can deliver adequate emergency backup power.

⦁ A battery backup of such a portable power station can run electrical loads such as TV, fridge, microwave, etc., for several days depending on the appliance’s required power (watts).

How long will a solar generator last, and for how many appliances?

A powerful solar generator for just charging the smartphones now and then would render your heavy-duty solar generator quite useless. You should preferably have a clear concept of

⦁ How many appliances you can run on a solar generator unit for a given time and

⦁ How many hours you can run a solar generator unit for a definitive number of appliances.

Coffee maker

⦁ Now, you want to make coffee in your 1200W coffee maker with a 100 Ah, 12V solar powered generator of 720 usable watt-hours.

The run time (minimum) should be 0.6 (720/1200) hours or 36 minutes.

Microwave

⦁ How many cups of tea can you heat for (2 minutes each) in your microwave of 1500W?
(720/1500) x (60/2) = 14.4 or 14 cups

How can a solar generator run an air conditioner & for how long?

One of the biggest energy consumers in households is an air conditioner unit.

Assuming,

Three solar panels of 200 watts A battery of 1200 watts Charging time 2 hours A room of 250 sq. ft. 6,000 BTU air conditioner

⦁ Your solar PV panels get one-fourth of the day (6 hours) to power themselves.

You’ve three 200 watt solar panels (they’ll make 600 watts in an hour and a total of 3600 watts in 6 hours in a day; 600×6=3600).

⦁ The solar panels will charge the battery in 2 hours (panels will produce 1200 watts; 600×2=1200), which will run during the night.

The rest of 3600 watts (3600-1200=2400 watts) will run items during the day.

⦁ You need to know how many watts (power) does your BTU (British thermal unit) air conditioner uses.

A 6,000 BTU (for a room size of 250 square ft) AC uses 500 – 750 watts of power.

⦁ But, if you’ve only one 200 watt solar panel, it’ll make 1,200 watts in 6 hours.

That means the battery will not have enough power for usage during the night as the air conditioner might run during the day.

⦁ Again, an air conditioner requires 2x the continuous power for the start-up.

If the device operates at 500w, it will need 1000 watts to start the unit. So, your inverter rating must be 1000 watts, to the least.

⦁ So, a solar generator of the above specifications can power a 6,000 BTU air conditioner (window unit) for 30 minutes (approximately) during the night.

Conclusion

I hope this article has given every single piece of information about How long can a solar generator run? It depends on your chosen electrical appliances’ energy consumption and the usable watt-hours that your solar generator unit can provide.

The calculation becomes crucial if you need to run lights & fans or ventilators throughout the night with a solar energy generator.

You do not need to refuel your solar generator, and it is maintenance-free among many other countless such properties.

The watt-rating of electrical load times the number of that unit for each appliance will give the total power (watts) required.

In this article, a detailed explanation of “for how long can a solar generator run?” was given.

In short, dividing the usable watt-hours of the solar power generator by the watts required will give you an idea of how long can a solar generator run.

Summary: 2 key points to remember when you look for a solar generator

⦁ Battery & inverter rating

An efficient solar generator battery rating (usable watt-hours) should be 1.5-2 times the inverter raring.

Low inverter rating confines the output of the solar generator.

Inverters of higher rating give the solar generator unit uninterrupted powering (AC) ability.

⦁ Battery & charge controller type

You can drain lithium batteries to 10 % of the rated capacity.

The solar generator’s MPPT charge controller increases power output and thus the recharging speed of the battery.

Top 15 Tips for Eco Parenting | Sustainable parenting Tips To Raise Happy And Eco-conscious Kids

Atiqur Rahman Mollick
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0
Top 15 Tips for Eco Parenting | Sustainable parenting Tips To Raise Happy And Eco-conscious Kids

Do you know why eco parenting is important?

If you do not know this, then this is the place where you can explore everything about eco-conscious parenting. You want to raise kids who love and care for the environment, which can do in various ways!

If you want to live your life eco-friendly and raise your kids in an eco-friendly environment, then you need to be strong and may have to sacrifice a lot. But before starting this life, learning eco parenting will help you a lot to make your life happier.

This article shares some essential tips on “How to become a greener parent.” So, Let’s see What the Top 15 Tips for Eco Parenting are:

Before knowing the tips for eco parenting you need to know about what is actually eco parenting and how it works?

What is Eco Parenting

You can explain eco parenting as a total consciousness of being a family man or woman. It deals with an awareness of the interaction between humans and nature. As a family guardian, raising children naturally, pollution-free, and holistically can be called eco-parenting. In short, we can name it the eco-conscious raising of infants.

Parenting is the oldest way of making a future generation. In the past, societies around the world found it crucial to develop themselves. Its versions have changed from time to time in various forms. Eco parenting deals with being and making humans by synthesis with nature. This article will try to provide brief explanations and some eco parenting tips.

Eco Parenting Strategies for the Modern World And you need to know How Eco parenting can work

Eco parenting is natural to achieve. But a holistic and nature-centric outlook is necessary to have green parenting. Obtaining certain practices in everyday life can help someone be an eco parent. Knowing nature correctly and its relation to one’s daily family activities is necessary.

Here are some ways to help- and tips for adapting to eco parenting.

  • Being aware of the infant raising method is the primary and inevitable way. Using eco-friendly products is an elementary need. Parents should not waste materials to raise babies. Present trends, including artificially made products, are not good at all.
  • Keeping a child clean and safe is one of the crucial needs. Today, people use many luxury products to maintain cleanliness for babies worldwide. In many cases, many of the products are not nature-friendly. Again, gradually those can harm babies in many ways. Being natural is a specific need.
  • Washing a baby’s waste is significant. During this, one should avoid expensive wipes. Instead of this, running water can work nicely to clean the baby. Also, homemade wipes can do the best. In this case, washing and reusing can be eco-friendlier. 
  • Choosing proper baby clothes can help to be eco-parents. Today, nature-friendly clothes for infants are prevalent. Moreover, reusing these clothes by mending them can be helpful. 
  • Allowing babies to feel nature is necessary. Parents should use some time with the infants nearer nature. Discerning nature helps the babies’ bodies and minds grow appropriately from an early stage.

Advantages of Eco Parenting And Benefits of encouraging kids to be eco friendly

In the present world, parenting is nothing less than a hard challenge. Today’s harsh reality made the planet a toxic place. Pollution created a fatal scenario, reducing all the possibilities of life. In this case, eco parenting can be a creative solution to keep the climate safe.

  • It’s completely natural. During parenting, natural ways of behaving towards infants and surroundings help to understand the interactions. Not only that, but proper maintenance of this can also earn the highest safety for one’s children.  
  • Safeguarding the children is the primary need of parenting. But only safety is not enough. The longevity of protection is necessary. Eco parenting ensures long-lasting safeguards for the human being. That’s why parents of the present world should adopt it.
  • Eco parenting can be a way to lead a minimal family life. Today’s wastage in families and communities occurs primarily due to the unlimited usage of daily products. Parenting often increases these wastages significantly. Only green parenting can ensure minimalism if appropriately adapted.
  • It can reduce stress. Stress is an inevitable curse in modern times. Today’s families and children raising have increased the sphere of this curse. Being natural can lower human suffering. And eco parenting is a creative way to be stress-free.
  • Eco parenting is a way of being self-sufficient. It promotes recycling and reusing by creative means of raising children. Also, it helps the guardians to adopt a lifestyle of simplicity. This habit can affect children positively in many ways.
  • Living in societies and communities means a lot of responsibilities. But social and communal sense alone is not enough. Along with social and collective matters, eco parenting helps to behave with nature-friendly regard in every activity.

Impacts of Eco Parenting On Environmental Attitudes

  • Eco parenting makes you rethink the value of family and its current activities. Today’s crude reality sometimes keeps us blind about our activities in families and societies. Eco parenting reminds us of our responsibilities.
  • Understanding your surroundings along with your position in a family is necessary. Adapting creative and nature-friendly activities can increase this understanding of power. It can serve both the future generation and the environment. 
  • Using eco-friendly products for your children helps you to differentiate useful things from harmful ones. One has to be aware of the products that need them in his family. Thus eco parenting provides a complete understanding of the family-environment relation. 
  • It provokes to reduce leading an unlimitedly careless life. Today, boundless consumerism is destroying not only nature but also the childhood of our future generation. Eco parenting lets you feel the consequences of your activities as a father or mother.
  • Eco parenting helps you to understand your babies in different types of ways. You and your family are not the only living being here. Animal lives are as valuable as yours. Any activity that harms your children- can harm other animals too. Changing your parenting behavior will leave a great sign which can change you as a family member and living being. 

Significant reasons for Eco Parenting

  • Of course, for nature first. Eco parenting can make real changes in raising human infants by caring about the climate. 
  • For your children, you want to guarantee a bright future for them. Green or eco parenting can help you. 
  • Necessarily, for yourself. It can make positive changes in yourself. If you care for your baby (indeed, you do), adopting it will bring you healthy outcomes.
  • Eco parenting can relieve you from the traditional harshness of your daily family activities. Think and act differently; experience the changes. 
  • Today’s market behavior seems human-friendly, but it isn’t. Eco parenting creates an awareness that can help you care about the matters in market behavior.  

Proven Top 15 tips for eco parenting

  • Use soft cotton cloths instead of diapers.
  • You can also use disposable diapers to replace clothes.
  • Do not go for synthetic wipes; use disposable wipes or tissues.
  • Do not use more than what is needed while wiping. Usually, 1 or 2 wipes should do just fine.
  • You can make wipes at home with torn clothes. Make sure the cloth is not harsh.
  • After the wipe, try to avoid synthetic skincare products. Use natural products or homemade recipes.
  • Try to wash clothes by hand as much as possible.
  • Use homemade detergents or eco-friendly ones instead of synthetic products.
  • Wash when necessary. Carefully determine which clothes are dirty.
  • Use cold water while washing. Hot water consumes more energy.
  • Let your kids spend more time outside.
  • Use a hand-controlled stroller instead of an automatic one.
  • Go to parks instead of other entertainment centers.
  • Buy your kids’ eco-friendly toys.
  • Always try to reuse waste or scraps. If not possible, make sure it is recycled.

Where can I find environmentally friendly baby products?

Essential baby products avail in almost any super shop. But most of them might not be entirely eco-friendly. Specialized baby shops usually have every type of baby product, synthetic and organic. They may also have ingredients from which they can make baby products at home. Most commonly available eco-friendly baby products are lotions, wipes, baby oil, wipes, diapers, sanitizers, cloths, etc. you may also find them in other eco-friendly stores.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Why eco parenting instead of general parenting?

A: Eco parenting offers significant benefits for the environment and economy, which general parenting hardly does. Choosing an eco parenting style will let you help the environment by reducing carbon footprints and your economy by reducing costs at saving.

Q: What are the significant impacts of eco parenting?

A: Eco parenting significantly impacts the environment by reducing carbon footprints. Study shows that individual household chores emit enough carbon to extend carbon proportion in the air by 6% annually. Eco parenting reduces that percentage significantly.

Q: Is eco parenting healthy?

A: Yes, eco parenting is as healthy as it sounds. It focuses on the usage of natural ingredients instead of synthetic ones. Natural ingredients mean more effectiveness and fewer side effects.

 Q: How can I encourage others on eco parenting?

A: Eco parenting is a scientifically proven parenting style. E parenting held the most potency for creating a better world among all the parenting styles. Try to discuss the facts and benefits of eco parenting while encouraging others and, of course, maintain the style yourself so that others can see your benefits.

Q: which countries are practicing eco parenting the most?

A: Eco parenting is getting popular among east Asian countries like china, japan, Indonesia, India, almost every European country, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada. Many second and third-world countries are starting to realize their benefits recently.

Conclusion

Eco parenting involves everything any parent does in an environment-friendly and economical manner. It can work in every parenting step, such as child-rearing, household work, family entertainment activities, etc.

Eco parenting offers many advantages, but you can mainly help the environment and your economy. Moreover, it helps to lead a pure and healthy lifestyle. Eco parenting can positively impact the environment, mainly by reducing carbon footprints and your economy by reducing costs and saving more. So, parents should choose eco parenting for a better future for their kids to grow up and teach them to maintain this tradition for future generations. 

Summery

Eco parenting can be referred to as everything parents do for their children and family in an eco-friendly manner. This involves raising children, feeding them, washing their clothes, waste management, etc. Eco parenting is not a new concept at all. Our ancestors used some methods of eco parenting. So it is not very hard to achieve.

Using cloths instead of diapers, making baby food at home, and washing clothes by hand are common examples of eco parenting. Eco parenting allows us to contribute towards preserving nature and can also be economical. This parenting style reduces carbon emissions and carbon footprints.

Conservation of energy is another major goal of eco parenting. Eco parenting has several positive impacts on the environment and our life. Maintaining eco parenting will let your children follow in your footsteps to understand the importance of natural balance. It is a healthy practice because synthetics are avoided as much as possible. There is no shortage of reasons why a parent should choose eco parenting. If you are a parent, ensure you have adopted eco parenting and enjoy the benefits. 

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