The Lots Of Faces of Solar Power
Active solar technology is the one that most people might recognize with. It involves having a solar panel that gathers the sun's energy and transforms it into electricity. These have a battery where energy is kept, so electrical energy can still be used during the night, and, to a certain extent, on cloudy days. Photovoltaic panel are an excellent method to make electrical power, especially in remote areas. While they are reasonably expensive to set up, and do need some maintenance, they offer trustworthy and free electrical power, even in environments far less warm than Nevada's.
Passive solar innovations are far older than active ones, and involve utilizing the natural heat and light the sun develops, without transforming it in any other way. Have you ever saw that Fix-It Right Plumbing after a long, hot day, south-facing rocks, pavement or brick and adobe buildings will radiate heat? They have actually spent the day passively gathering solar power, and are launching it. Some products are better at absorbing and saving that heat than others. For instance, wood insulates, meaning it will block temperatures, whereas stone will absorb and launch temperatures. Houses that are built to benefit from passive solar are frequently built of brick, adobe or concrete. Cob is another passive-solar-friendly and ancient structure material that is going through a revival of sorts. It is made of sand, clay and straw, comparable ingredients as adobe, however adobe is baked into bricks and stacked, whereas cob structures are free-formed while the material is wet. 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. Initially, they provide natural light inside the home, one aspect of passive solar. Second, they allow heat to come into the home. If the home has a stone tile flooring and even walls, that tile will take in the heat, releasing it later on when the outside temperature level drops.
Passive solar homes can be designed to be cool in summer while utilizing the sun to warm them in winter. For example, if shutters are closed throughout summer season, the home will stay much cooler. Also, the height and angle of overhang can be considered to maximize the windows direct exposure to low winter season sun, however lessen direct exposure to the high summer season sun. Additionally, I saw an interesting example of somebody planting deciduous trees on the south side of their home. In the winter season, the trees had no leaves therefore allow a great deal of light and heat. In the summer, their thick plant supplied shade that kept your house cool.
So that is the significant distinction in between active and passive solar innovations. Considering that passive solar is essentially free, it would be wise for any designer or home designer to take it into factor to consider when developing brand-new homes. Well designed passive solar homes can significantly lower their electrical energy needs. And while active solar is fantastic innovation, it still takes many resources to develop. Plus, it may be unnecessary in an area with an existing electrical source.
As for thermal water heating, it too is a very simple principle. Home made thermal water heaters can be as simple as an outside water tank painted black, however that's a little crude for a lot of tastes. However, there are a range of designs out there. Some have panels that are metal painted black and confined with glass, with copper pipelines filled with water running through them. This water will warm, and is then pressed by gravity into an insulated storage tank. Some solar water heaters use a similar set-up but with tubes filled with anti-freeze that are then linked to a heat transfer loop, where water in a storage tank is warmed. Whatever system you utilize, thermal water heating is surprisingly affective.
There are a lot of ways to make the most of the sun and use less electrical energy. Check out next year's National Solar Tour to see them on your own.