|
 Annual Events Attend
Albuquerque Job Corps
Green Fair Earth Day
New Mexico Ultimate Home Showcase
New Mexico Solar Energy Fiesta
Rio Rancho Lincoln Middle
School Career Day
Association Memberships
New Mexico Solar Energy Association
Editorial Media Coverage
Albuquerque Trial Balloon
2008 News story featuring
"Solar Thermal Systems"
New Mexico Business Weekly
Named one of New Mexico's
top 25 solar companies in
Green Issue 2009
Good Day New Mexico KOB-TV
News casts as featured Solar Energy guest Advocates 2011
View May 9th News Cast
Consider a solar energy system for your home or office
View May 23rd News Cast
Solar energy on a budget
View June 6th News Cast
Reduce your carbon footprint, starting at home
View June 20th News Cast
Using the latest technology to reduce your carbon footprint
Rio Rancho Observer
2009 News story featuring
"Why Choose Solar"
Resource Websites
Carbon Footprint Calculator
- - - - - - - - -
Database of State Solar Incentives
- - - - - - - - -
Energy Savers
- - - - - - - - -
NM Dept. of Energy - Clean Energy Info
- - - - - - - - -
PNM Solar PV Program
- - - - - - - - -
Union of Concerned Scientists
- - - - - - - - -
UNM School of Engineering Solar Test Bed
- - - - - - - - -
UNM School of Engineering Solar Thermal System with Evacuated Tubes
Articles of Interest
Buy American Act Collectors
Solar Industry Feb. 2010 PDF
Global Solar Technology
SPP Evacuated Tubes Collectors installed in northern New Mexico Mar. 2010
Photovoltaics World
Solar PV installations: Beyond "measure twice, cut once"
Dec. 2009
Mirasol Solar Energy Systems
Subscribe to Our Blog!
Quotes for Thought
"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait till oil and coal run out before we tackle that." -Thomas Edison.
"What is the use of a house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?" -Henry Davide Thoreau
"We are surrounded by insurmountable opportunities." -Pogo
"It is not incumbent upon us to do everything that must be done, it is only incumbent upon us to do our part." -Ancient scripture
"I have no doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun's energy... If sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had solar energy centuries ago." -Sir George Porter
"The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun." -Ralph Nader
"We will have solar energy as soon as the utility companies solve one technical problem - how to run a sunbeam through a meter." -Anonymous
SSP-30A Authorized Dealer
Free Hot Water Authorized Dealer
HotSpot Energy Authorized Dealer
|
|
SOLAR POWER - OFF GRID PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
Oh, Give Me a Home, Where the Buffalo Roam: And the Power Poles are Ten Miles Away!
Yearning to get away from it all? Thinking of building a weekend get-away or a permanent home in the mountains? New Mexico has a lot of scenic, remote areas where life would seem like heaven. With photovoltaic technology, you don't have to live like a cowboy on a trail drive!
How Does Off-Grid PV Work?
Off-grid PV systems are a great solution in an area where running a line to the closest utility grid is prohibitively expensive or in an area where power blackouts are common occurrences.
Since an off-grid system is completely autonomous from the utility grid, it requires a larger up-front investment than a grid-tie system. The off-grid PV system needs additional equipment to supply power continuously and to store power for use during cloudy days. Furthermore, an off-grid system is configured to produce enough power for ALL appliances used in the structure, including during times of peak usage.
When designing an off-grid system, Mirasol Solar Energy Systems considers the entire picture, down to each light bulb. We will analyze your electrical needs and recommend lights and appliances that will reduce your energy consumption.
Off-grid systems are generally larger than grid-tie systems. To be fully independent, a system must have a greater array of energy-producing panels, which in turn requires more batteries to store the charge and more equipment to regulate the charge. While requiring more parts will require a large initial investment, in the long-run an off-grid system may save you thousands.
What are the components of an Off-Grid system?
- Solar Array
- A Solar Array is a group of solar panels which absorb solar energy and convert this to DC power. The number and type of solar panels will determine how much energy you can produce, as will your geographic location.
- PV Combiner Box
- The PV Combiner Box usually includes GFCIs which protect your solar power system from equipment damage caused by power surges and short circuits. You can also shut down your solar power system at a moment's notice, allowing for safe maintenance, repair, and inspection.
- Charge Controller
- Your batteries will accept all electrical current running from the solar array, but overcharging can ruin them. Charge controllers ensure batteries don't receive current when they're charged to capacity, protecting your investment.
- DC Breaker Box
- The DC Breaker Box includes a disconnect which will regulate the relationship between the battery bank and the inverter so it can be shut down at a moment's notice to replace, repair, or inspect the batteries safely.
- Battery Bank
- Batteries store the energy you collect through your array. Off-grid systems must collect enough energy to power your home or business until your batteries can be charged again.
- Inverter
- Inverters take DC power and convert it to AC power. Most electrical systems (like that found in your home) run off of AC power.
- Back-up Generator
- A back-up power supply is important to compensate for weather patterns which might otherwise disrupt your array's collection.
How Do I Get Started On Planning My System?
If you are connected to the grid now, but want to get off the grid, we only need to review your power usage history.
For new structures, we will need to estimate your future usage in watt hours. Please download Mirasol Solar Energy System's POWER LOAD ESTIMATOR PDF. We have given you a long list of everything we could think of that requires electricity. We included the average wattage for each appliance. You should still check the appliance that you own to verify the exact wattage. If the appliance does not state the exact wattage, you can figure it by multiplying the Volts AC (Vac) by the Amps. If you need some help, please call Mirasol Solar. We will be happy to assist you.
After you calculate the watts used by each appliance, you will need to estimate the amount of hours per day, week or month that you operate the appliance. Try to be as exact as you can. It is important to get it right -so take your time.
Once the watt hours are calculated, you can follow the system sizing formula in the PV FAQs PDF to estimate the system size you will need or simply call us at Mirasol Solar and let us do it for you!
What Brand of Equipment Does Mirasol Solar Sell?
We design PV systems using several brands of equipment from different manufacturers. We use top quality, nationally and internationally known components. Often, the application and size of the system will help us determine the brand of components needed. Mirasol Solar Energy Systems does not believe in off-the-shelf solar system kits. We custom design every system to do the best job for you at the lowest cost.
Mirasol Solar Energy Systems is committed to helping our nation's economy to get back on track. We will always recommend American-made equipment whenever it is possible.
Can a Business or Commercial Building Use Off-Grid PV?
Yes. Any business or commercial structure, including temporary structures, i.e., construction trailers, can supply power needs with off-grid PV.
|
|
A Bright Idea 
Tankless water heating systems work great with solar! The solar system preheats your water, applies the right pressure to move the hot water quickly to each faucet and you save lots of money on your energy bill!
If a big Solar Thermal or PV system is a little too much of an investment for you, start small. Just heating your domestic water with a Solar Thermal System can mean big savings for you.
Photovoltaic systems for making electricity can start small too. The new mircroinverters that attach to each, individual solar panel means that you can start with just one or two panels that can produce power for a major appliance such as your TV or a freezer. Then you can add more panels as you can afford them.
You will continue to get tax rebates whenever you add more solar to your home or business.
SOLAR WATER HEATING FOR BUSINESSES
What business is not concerned with overhead? Reduce yours with SOLAR WATER HEATING.
Some businesses may be eligible for immediate refunds from the federal and/or state governments.
Businesses that can greatly benefit from solar water heating are:
- Beauty Salons
- Car Washes
- Food Process Plants
- Fire Houses
- Health Clinics
- Health Clubs
- Hospitals
- Hotels/Motels
- Laundromats
- Restaurants
- Schools
A LITTLE GREEN
GOES A LONG WAY
Find little, inventive ways to save energy. Look at all the appliances you use and how you use them. You may find that some of your habits are small energy wasters like small leaks in a boat. You can plug up those holes for big energy savings with little changes, such as:
You may love your Pamela Anderson screen saver but she is not an energy saver. Screen savers continue to use the monitor at full power and do not conserve energy. Remember - manually turning monitors off is always the better energy-saving strategy.
Consider resetting your printer margins narrower and using a smaller font to reduce the paper that you use, and the trees that are cut down and energy used to ship the extra paper you are wasting.
When it is time to upgrade your computer, consider a laptop. They are much more energy efficient than a desktop model.
Move halogen lamps away from the air conditioning thermostat. The heat produced by the light will make your air conditioner run longer than is necessary.
Plant tall, creeping vines on the western wall of your home. They will reduce the afternoon heat on your house in the summer but let the heat through when the plant drops its leaves in the winter.
Speaking of plants, bamboo makes a great natural fence, can grow a foot a day and absorbs huge amounts of carbon dioxide.
Buy locally grown, raised and produced goods to avoid trucking.
Plan a green wedding: get your cake at a local bakery, order seasonal flowers, and buy wine from a local vintner.
PV Solar Radiation
View Larger Map
Call Mirasol Solar Energy Systems today to help you increase your bottom line with solar!
view verification
Better Business Bureau Member
view our business report rating
SRCC Rated & Certified
 
|
