Concentrating Solar Power
Concentrating solar power technologies use reflective materials such as mirrors to concentrate the sun’s energy. This concentrated heat energy is then converted into electricity.
June 23rd, 2005 - Posted in Solar Technologies | | 0 Comments
Passive Solar Heating
In cold climates, south-facing windows designed to let the sun’s heat in while insulating against the cold are ideal. In hot and moderate climates, the strategy is to admit light while rejecting heat. Interior spaces requiring the most light, heat, and cooling are located along the south face of the building, with less used space to the north. Open floor plans allow more sun inside.
The simplest passive design is the direct gain system in which the sun shines directly into a building, heating it up. The sun’s heat is stored by the building’s inherent thermal mass in materials such as concrete, stone floor slabs, or masonry partitions that hold and slowly release heat. With indirect gain systems, thermal mass is located between the sun and the living space. An isolated gain system is one where the system is isolated from the primary living area, such as a sunroom or solar greenhouse with convective loops into the living space.
June 21st, 2005 - Posted in Solar Technologies | | 0 Comments
Passive Solar Heating
Passive Solar Heating
Cooling and Daylighting
Buildings designed for passive solar and daylighting incorporate design features such as large south-facing windows and building materials that absorb and slowly release the sun’s heat. No mechanical means are employed in passive solar heating. Incorporating passive solar designs can reduce heating bills as much as 50 percent. Passive solar designs can also include natural ventilation for cooling.
June 17th, 2005 - Posted in Solar Technologies | | 0 Comments
Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics
Photovoltaic solar cells, which directly convert sunlight into electricity, are made of semiconducting materials. The simplest photovoltaic cells power watches and calculators and the like, while more complex systems can light houses and provide power to the electrical grid.
June 16th, 2005 - Posted in Solar Technologies | | 0 Comments
