Habitat for Humanity in Nassau County Goes Green on Latest Build
August 3, 2008
ROOSEVELT, NEW YORK –
LocalHG.com recently attended the installation of the first solar panels used on a new home built by Habitat for Humanity in Nassau County. Located in Roosevelt, NY, the new home was fitted with 18 solar panels installed by volunteers from the Long Island Solar Energy Industries Association as well as LIPA. Empire Clean Energy, a Bohemia, NY based solar product supplier, donated the panels to the project.
 As it was explained to us by the attending experts, solar cells are wired together to create a structure of solar panels.
Inside each solar panel lies a positive and negative plate. When the negative plate is placed at the proper angle to the sun, photons bombard it, resulting in the release of electrons.
As the solar panels receive more sunlight, more electrons are released, the result is direct current electricity. An inverter must be installed in order for a house to properly use the direct current electricity generated by the solar panels.
In addition to the solar panels the house is being built with a radiant barrier on the ceiling, a condensing boiler and an air-sealed wooden framing. Each of these energy-conserving techniques is used to help regulate the temperature in the home and further increase its energy efficiency.
The new home is scheduled for completion in October 2008.
For more information on these and other companies providing home owners with green building and alternative energy sources, visit Local House and Garden.
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built nearly 300,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.5 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org or the Nassau County chapter at www.hfhnc.org. |
