The Numerous Faces of Solar Power
Living in Nevada, the sun is an almost constant companion. This provides Nevadans a distinct opportunity to utilize solar radiation powers for good. In April, a tour of southern Nevada homes shed some light on the topic of solar energy homes. Hosted by the American Solar Energy Society, this Nevada branch of the National Solar Tour explored homes that utilized both passive and active solar power, thermal hot water systems, and other environmentally functions. Nevertheless, unless you're a green innovations expert, or took the trip, you might not know the difference between passive and active solar, or how thermal hot water is different than average. Let me help you understand!
Active solar technology is the one that most people may recognize with. It includes having a photovoltaic panel that collects the sun's energy and converts it into electrical power. These have a battery where energy is kept, so electrical energy can still be used during the night, and, to a certain degree, on cloudy days. Photovoltaic panel are an outstanding method to make electrical energy, especially in remote locations. While they are reasonably pricey to establish, and do need some upkeep, they offer reputable and complimentary electrical power, even in climates far less bright than Nevada's.
Passive solar innovations are far older than active ones, and include making use of the natural heat and light the sun produces, 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 collecting solar power, and are launching it. Some materials are much better at absorbing and keeping that heat energy than others. For example, wood insulates, meaning it will block temperatures, whereas stone will soak up and launch temperatures. Homes that are developed to make the most 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, comparable components as adobe, but adobe is baked into bricks and stacked, whereas cob structures are free-formed while the material is wet. Passive solar homes normally 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 offer natural light inside the home, one element of passive solar. Second, they permit heat to come into the home. If the home has a stone tile flooring and even walls, that tile will soak up the heat, launching it later on when the outdoors temperature level drops.
Passive solar homes can be created to be cool in summer season while using the sun to warm them in winter season. For instance, if shutters are closed throughout summer months, the home will remain much cooler. Also, the height and angle of overhang can be thought about to maximize the windows direct exposure to low winter season sun, but decrease direct exposure to the high summertime sun. Additionally, I saw an interesting example of someone planting deciduous trees on the south side of their home. In the winter, the trees had no leaves therefore let in a lot of light and heat. In the summer season, their thick plant offered shade that kept your house cool.
As for thermal water heating, it too is an extremely basic idea. Home made thermal hot water heater can be as basic as an outside water tank painted black, however that's a little crude for a lot of tastes. However, there are a variety of styles out there. Some have panels DIY plumbing tips that are metal painted black and read these plumbing tips confined with glass, with copper pipes filled with water running through them. This water will heat up, and is then pushed by gravity into an insulated tank. Some solar hot water heater utilize a comparable set-up however with tubes filled with anti-freeze that are then attached to a heat transfer loop, where water in a tank is heated up. Whatever system you use, thermal water heating is surprisingly affective.
There are a lot of ways to take advantage of the sun and utilize less electrical energy. Have a look at next year's National Solar Tour to see them on your own.