The many faces of solar power

The Numerous Faces of Solar Power

Living in Nevada, the sun is a practically constant buddy. This provides Nevadans an unique opportunity to use solar radiation powers for great. In April, a tour of southern Nevada homes shed some light on the subject of solar energy homes. Hosted by the American Solar Energy Society, this Nevada branch of the National Solar Trip checked out homes that utilized both passive and active solar energy, thermal hot water systems, and other environmentally functions. Nevertheless, unless you're a green technologies professional, or took the tour, you may not understand the distinction in between passive and active solar, or how thermal hot water is different than average. Let me assist you understand!

Active solar technology is the one that the majority of people might be familiar with. It involves having a solar panel that gathers the sun's energy and converts it into electricity. These have a battery where energy is kept, so electrical power can still be utilized during the night, and, to a specific extent, on cloudy days. Solar panels are an outstanding method to home repair techniques make electrical energy, particularly in remote areas. While they are moderately costly to set up, and do need some upkeep, they supply trusted and complimentary electrical power, even in environments far less sunny than Nevada's.

Passive solar technologies are far older than active ones, and include using the natural heat and light the sun creates, without converting it in any other method. Have you ever noticed that after a long, hot day, south-facing rocks, pavement or brick and adobe structures will radiate warmth? They have spent the day passively gathering solar power, and are launching it. Some products are much better at taking in and saving that heat energy than others. For instance, wood insulates, indicating it will obstruct temperatures, whereas stone will take in and launch temperature levels. Homes that are developed to benefit from passive solar are typically built of brick, adobe or concrete. Cob is another passive-solar-friendly and ancient building product that is going through a revival of sorts. It is made from sand, clay and straw, comparable active ingredients as adobe, but adobe is baked into bricks and stacked, whereas cob structures are free-formed while the material is damp. Passive solar homes typically have a great deal of windows lining their south walls, and less so their east and west walls, with little to no windows on the colder north sides. These windows do two things. Initially, they supply natural light inside the home, one aspect of passive solar. Second, they enable heat to come into the home. If the home has a stone tile floor and even walls, that tile will absorb the heat, releasing it later on when the outdoors temperature drops.

Passive solar homes can be created to be cool in summer season while utilizing the sun to warm them in winter. For example, if shutters are closed throughout summertime, the home will remain much cooler. Also, the height and angle of overhang can be thought about to optimize the windows direct exposure to low winter sun, however decrease direct exposure to the high summer sun. Additionally, I saw an interesting example of someone planting deciduous trees on the south side of their home. In the winter season, the trees had no leaves and so let in a lot of light and heat. In the summer, their thick plant provided shade that kept your home cool.

So that is the major difference between active and passive solar innovations. Because passive solar is basically free, it would be wise for any designer or home designer to take it into consideration when constructing new homes. Well designed passive solar homes can significantly reduce their electrical energy needs. And while active solar is dazzling technology, it still takes many resources to develop. Plus, it may be unnecessary in a location with an existing electrical source.

As for thermal water heating, it too is a really easy concept. Home made thermal hot water heater can be as simple as an outdoor water tank painted black, but that's a little crude for a lot of tastes. However, there are a range of styles out there. Some have panels that are metal painted black and confined with glass, with copper pipes filled with water going through them. This water will heat, and is then pushed by gravity into an insulated tank. Some solar hot water heater use a comparable set-up however with tubes filled with anti-freeze that are then connected to a heat transfer loop, where water in a storage tank is warmed. Whatever system you use, thermal water heating is surprisingly affective.

There are a great deal of ways to take advantage of the sun and use less electrical power. Check out next year's National Solar Trip to see them for yourself.