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Renewable Energy For Your HomeAlmost all energy we use comes originally from the sun. Fossil fuels are plant and animal matter that decayed tens of millions of years ago and have been compressed and heated, turning into coal, oil, and gases. Of course, plants get energy from the sun and convert it through photosynthesis. Animals in turn eat plants, converting the stored energy into energy to keep themselves alive. Wind is created because of differential heating of land and water areas by the sun, creating movement of air from one area to another. Geothermal energy is residual heat of the earth, which was created billions of years ago in the formation of the solar system. So, we can trace all energy back to the source...the nearest star, our sun. Photovoltaic Energy (PV) - Electricity From SunraysSolar photovoltaic cells are small, square shaped panel semiconductors manufactured in thin film layers from silicon and other conductive materials. When sunlight strikes the PV cell, chemical reactions release electrons, generating electric current. The small current from individual PV cells, which are installed in modules, power individual homes and businesses, or can be plugged into the bulk electricity grid.  How a Photovoltaic System creates Electricity*
 Schematic of a domestic hot water system** Solar Hot WaterThe sun's heat has been used for decades to heat water for homes and businesses. At the turn of the 20th century, solar heated water systems were common in Southern California. Some countries have made their use mandatory. For example, most homes in Israel have solar hot water systems.
Passive Solar DesignYour home's windows, walls, and floors can be designed to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer. This is called passive solar design or climatic design. Unlike active solar heating systems, passive solar design doesn't involve the use of mechanical and electrical devices, such as pumps, fans, or electrical controls to move the solar heat.Passive solar homes range from those heated almost entirely by the sun to those with south-facing windows that provide some fraction of the heating load. The difference between a passive solar home and a conventional home is design. The key is designing a passive solar home to best take advantage of your local climate. For more information, see how a passive solar home design works. You can apply passive solar design techniques most easily when designing a new home. However, existing buildings can be adapted or "retrofitted" to passively collect and store solar heat. To design a completely passive solar home, you need to incorporate what are considered the five elements of passive solar design. Other design elements include:
Wind Energy Small Wind Turbine Wind energy is a form of solar energy produced by uneven heating of the Earth's surface. Wind resources are best along coastlines, on hills, and in the northern states, but usable wind resources can be found in most areas. As a power source wind energy is less predictable than solar energy, but it is also typically available for more hours in a given day. Wind resources are influenced by terrain and other factors that make it much more site specific than solar energy. Wind energy follows seasonal patterns that provide the best performance in the winter months and the lowest performance in the summer months. This is just the opposite of solar energy. For this reason wind and solar systems work well together in hybrid systems. These hybrid systems provide a more consistent year-round output than either wind-only or PV-only systems. Source: |
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