The lots of faces of solar energy

The Many Faces of Solar Power

Living in Nevada, the sun is an almost continuous buddy. This offers Nevadans a special opportunity to use solar radiation powers for good. In April, a trip of southern Nevada homes shed some light on the topic of solar energy homes. Hosted by the American Solar Power Society, this Nevada branch of the National Solar Trip explored homes that used both passive and active solar power, thermal hot water systems, and other ecologically functions. However, unless you're a green innovations specialist, or took the trip, you might not understand the difference in between passive and active solar, or how thermal warm water is different than average. Let me assist you understand!

Active solar technology is the one that the majority of people may be familiar with. It includes having a photovoltaic panel that gathers the sun's energy and transforms it into electrical power. These have a battery where energy is saved, so electrical power can still be utilized at night, and, to a particular extent, on cloudy days. Solar panels are an exceptional way to make electrical power, particularly in remote areas. While they are moderately costly to set up, and do need some maintenance, they supply dependable and free 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 discovered that after a long, hot day, south-facing rocks, pavement or brick and adobe structures will radiate warmth? They have invested the day passively gathering solar power, and are releasing it. Some products are much better at soaking up and saving that heat energy than others. For instance, wood insulates, implying it will block temperature levels, whereas stone will soak up and launch temperature levels. Residences that are constructed to take advantage of passive solar are often built of brick, adobe or concrete. Cob is another passive-solar-friendly and ancient structure product that is going through a revival of sorts. It is made of sand, clay and straw, similar ingredients as adobe, but adobe is baked into bricks and stacked, whereas cob structures are free-formed while the product 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 chillier north sides. These windows do 2 things. First, they provide natural light inside the home, one aspect of passive solar. Second, they permit heat to come into the home. If the home has a stone tile floor and even walls, that tile will take in the heat, releasing it later when the outdoors temperature drops.

Passive solar homes can be designed to be cool in summer while utilizing the sun to warm them in winter season. For instance, if shutters are closed during summertime, the home will stay much cooler. Also, the height and angle of overhang can be considered to take full advantage of the windows exposure to low winter sun, but minimize exposure to the high summertime sun. Alternatively, I saw an intriguing example of someone planting deciduous trees on the south side of their home. In the winter, the trees had no leaves and so let in a great deal of light and heat. In the summertime, their thick greenery supplied shade that kept your house cool.

So that is the major difference in between active and passive solar technologies. Because passive solar is essentially totally free, it would be sensible for any architect or home designer to take it into consideration when constructing brand-new homes. Well developed passive solar homes can considerably decrease their electrical energy requirements. And while active solar is brilliant technology, it still takes lots of resources to develop. Plus, it may be superfluous in an area with an existing electrical source.

As for thermal water heating, it too is a really simple 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 many tastes. Nevertheless, there are a range of styles out there. Some clean drains with vinegar have panels that are metal painted black and enclosed with glass, with copper pipes filled with water running through them. This water will heat, and is then pressed by gravity into an insulated tank. Some solar water heaters utilize a similar set-up however with tubes filled with anti-freeze that are then attached to a heat transfer loop, where water in a storage tank is warmed. Whatever system you use, thermal water heating is remarkably affective.

There are a lot of ways to benefit from the sun and utilize less electrical energy. Have a look at next year's National Solar Trip to see them for yourself.