The Numerous Faces of Solar Power
Living in Nevada, the sun is an almost consistent buddy. This gives Nevadans a special opportunity to utilize solar radiation powers for good. In April, a trip of southern Nevada homes budget tips for homeowners shed some light on the topic of solar energy homes. Hosted by the American Solar Energy Society, this Nevada branch of the National Solar Trip explored homes that utilized both passive and active solar power, thermal hot water systems, and other environmentally features. Nevertheless, unless you're a green technologies expert, or took the tour, you may not know the distinction between passive and active solar, or how thermal warm water is different than average. Let me help you understand!
Active solar innovation is the one that many people may be familiar with. It involves having a photovoltaic panel that gathers the sun's energy and transforms it into electricity. These have a battery where energy is stored, so electricity can still be utilized in the evening, and, to a particular extent, on cloudy days. Photovoltaic panel are an outstanding way to make electricity, especially in remote locations. While they are reasonably expensive read this to set up, and do need some upkeep, they provide reliable and complimentary electrical power, even in climates far less sunny than Nevada's.
Passive solar technologies are far older than active ones, and involve making use of the natural heat and light the sun creates, without transforming it in any other method. Have you ever saw that after a long, hot day, south-facing rocks, pavement or brick and adobe structures will radiate warmth? They have actually invested the day passively gathering solar power, and are releasing it. Some products are better at taking in and storing that heat energy than others. For instance, wood insulates, suggesting it will obstruct temperatures, whereas stone will take in and release temperatures. Houses 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 building product that is going through a revival of sorts. It is made from sand, clay and straw, similar ingredients as adobe, but adobe is baked into bricks and stacked, whereas cob structures are free-formed while the material is wet. Passive solar homes usually 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 provide natural light inside the home, one element 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 take in the heat, launching it later on when the outdoors temperature level drops.
Passive solar homes can be designed to be cool in summer season while using the sun to warm them in winter season. For example, if shutters are closed throughout summertime, the home will remain much cooler. Likewise, the height and angle of overhang can be considered to optimize the windows direct exposure to low winter season sun, however reduce direct exposure to the high summer sun. Alternatively, I saw an intriguing 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 summertime, their thick greenery supplied shade that kept your home cool.
As for thermal water heating, it too is a really easy principle. Home made thermal water heaters can be as easy as an outdoor water tank painted black, but that's a little crude for most tastes. Nevertheless, there are a variety of designs out there. Some have panels that are metal painted black and enclosed with glass, with copper pipelines filled with water going through them. This water will heat up, and is then pushed by gravity into an insulated storage tank. Some solar hot water heater utilize a similar set-up however with tubes filled with anti-freeze that are then hooked up to a heat transfer loop, where water in a tank is heated up. Whatever system you utilize, thermal water heating is remarkably affective.
There are a lot of ways to take advantage of the sun and utilize less electricity. Check out next year's National Solar Tour to see them on your own.