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Passive and Active Solar Energy – The Keys to Our Global Energy Crisis.
Passive and active solar energy is the energy source of the future. If you’ve ever sat down in a closed car that has been exposed to the hot sun, you know the power of solar heat and light. Nowhere on the planet will you find any other energy source as powerful and without sacrificing our natural resources and environment. New technologies are being used daily to help us harness solar energy.
Passive solar energy is being used in many ways. Passive solar energy, just as the name implies uses the heat and light from the sun without using any collectors, grids, or cells. For example, buildings are now being designed to use passive solar energy. The south side of a building always gets the most sunlight. With that in mind, buildings that are designed to use passive solar energy will have large south facing windows. Sunlit floors and walls can now be built with materials to absorb and store the sun’s solar heating.
Two other design features that help provide passive solar energy are sunspaces and trombe walls. Sunspaces (similar to a greenhouse) are constructed on the south side of a building. As sunlight passes through the glass or glazing it warms the sunspace. Ventilation allows the heat to circulate into the building.
A trombe wall is a thick, south-facing wall, painted black. Trombe walls are made of materials that naturally absorb a lot of heat. Glass or plastic glazing, installed a few inches in front of the wall, helps hold the heat. The wall heats up slowly during the day. During the night as it cools gradually the trombe wall gives off heat inside the building.
Active solar energy systems use focusing mirrors and metal plates to capture the sun’s energy. Solar radiation is absorbed by the collectors and then transfers the heat to air or water. The solar collector of an active solar system is a black absorber. This absorber absorbs solar radiation and converts it into heat. This heat is then transferred to a heat=transfer liquid and then to a heat exchanger to heat water in a tank or to be stored for later use.
Active solar systems can be used to heat water in home, swimming pools, and commercial and industrial buildings. These systems can also be used to provide space heating. Using glazed collectors much like solar water heating systems heat is transferred to a radiant floor heating system. Fans or pumps can also be used to circulate heated air.
Incorporating passive and active solar energy systems into new homes and building will save thousands on energy costs. While there may be some expense initially, adding these systems to existing structures is also well worth the investment. Consider protecting and enhancing our environment and reduce your energy costs by using solar energy.
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