However, the long strings of Christmas lights, which are often incandescent or fluorescent, significantly affects the environment. According to studies, such Christmas lights emit considerable amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide which augments the problem in global warming.

So, nowadays as the trend is “going green”, it is not surprising that more homes and businesses prefer the use of solar powered Christmas lights when decorating for the holidays. Such lights are good for the environment as well as to the budget. They save energy from the sun in daylight and automatically turn on at night. Thus, there is no need for additional electricity. Since it is solar, it has considerably lesser chemical reactions which are harmful to health and environment.

Solar powered Christmas lights are composed of three parts – the solar panel, the battery and the LED light bulb. The solar panel is responsible for saving the solar energy and converting the same to electricity. The battery saves the converted energy upon its release at night. The LED light bulbs brighten the Christmas decorations while consuming lesser energy.

LED Christmas lights are also of high quality and are likely to last longer than ordinary Christmas lights. It can be re-used for the next holiday season if stored carefully. In the long run, the more people who re-use solar LED Christmas lights, the fewer Christmas lights are destroyed and thrown into garbage.

Also, re-using LED Christmas lights will result to fewer Christmas lights being manufactured. The less products manufactured, the less harmful pollutants will be produced. Imagine how many garbage and carbon dioxide are reduced by just reusing at least half of the trillion lights used for a current holiday season.

Air is drawn from inside the room through the bottom of the collector and blown out through a duct in the top. The SolarSheat 1500G can heat an area of the home or room up to 750 ft2 or 70 m2 when the sun is shining. A number of these collectors can be connected together to heat larger areas or rooms. An external digital control let’s you preset the temperature for the collector to start heating.

Their products are economical, environmentally friendly, can be used for air heating or hot water supply and offer high performance n a variety of different climates and applications.

Given power completely by the light of the sun, they will save you money on electricity, and in turn reduce your carbon footprint. The light string is 40 feet long, and they are perfect for stringing around trees and bushes in your yard. The solar powered X-mas lights have 102 bright green and red LED lights that are not only a great addition to your Christmas decoration collection, but would also make a wonderful, eco-friendly gift!

The reductions reflect the drop in both the cost of PV modules as well as non-module costs such as installation labor, marketing, overhead, inverters, and the balance of systems. According to the report, “Tracking the Sun IV: An Historical Summary of the Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the United States from 1998 to 2010,” average non-module costs for residential and commercial systems declined by roughly 18% from 2009 to 2010.

1. Age of your roof
Has it been more than 20 years since anyone has tended to your roof? If so, a specialist should take a quick look at your roof. Since solar panels have a long lifespan, make sure you make any home improvements on your roof before the actual installation.

2. Available space
Solar panels typically take about 1 square foot of space for every 10 watts produced. This means that if you want 3,000 watts produced by your panels, you’ll need about 300 square feet of open space on your roof. Make sure you have enough space for the amount of solar power you want to generate. You don’t have to plan to offset all your electricity usage. Even with a smaller system, you can substantially lower your utility bill.

3. Direction of your Roof
The most effective solar panels are on roofs that face south in the Northern Hemisphere, that way the solar panels get maximum exposure to sunlight. Houses that face east or west can still generate solar power and an installer will alert you if your house fits in this category.

4. Type of Roof
Installers have been doing solar for many years and are well educated in the different types of roof that are supportive of solar. The easiest type of roof for installers to work on is a composite shingle roof and the most difficult ones are wood-shake roofs. In general, most roofs can hold solar panels but there may be added fees for more equipment and steep angled roofs.

5. Angle of Roof
The angle of your roof can make a difference in your solar system’s price. For example, the steeper your roof is the harder it is for installers to navigate and install the panels. Installers may add on extra charges if your roof is incredibly steep and hard to work on, but you will still get solar panels. Flat roofs require more equipment because of the reverse tilt that goes on under the brackets to tilt the panels to make sure as much sun hits them as possible.

6. Shading
Making sure there are no objects blocking the sun from hitting the solar panels is very important. If surrounding trees are proving to create shade, you do have some options, so don’t worry.

If your home doesn’t meet the grade for each of these 6 factors, don’t fret. There are often ways to work with less-than-ideal roofs. It’s best to work with a professional to evaluate your home for solar. SunRun home solar offers free solar consultations and quotes so sign up today to learn if solar is right for your home.

Nami Sung is a solar energy professional currently employed at SunRun, a solar financing company. She enjoys writing about clean, renewable energy and is excited to contribute her first post to Solar Power Ninjas. You can read her articles on Renewable Energy World and follow her on Twitter (@sunrun_nami).

The durable and weather-resistant panels collect energy from the sun’s rays even in reduced light and poor weather conditions and they the provide most cooling effect when it’s needed most: during the hottest part of the day.

“This is our first HGTV Green Home in a New England location, which gives us the chance to demonstrate the best building products and practices uniquely suited for the charm and challenges of a northeast climate,” said Jack Thomasson, HGTV House Planner. “As an added bonus, the fantastic amenities of The Pinehills community offer a lifestyle suited for the outdoor and eco-enthusiast. The house and community make this our best HGTV Green Home yet.”

Simply start with the 10´W x 8´D Solar Shed and then increase the depth of the shed (in increments of 4´) by ordering building extenders with either glass or solid roofs.

This kind of unit is great for creating a more sustainable home and garden.