Solar Basics, Part 2

In my opinion, our sun offers an energy source that is virtually inexhaustible, plentiful, and relatively easy to harness. Solar energy should and will be a huge part of our overall energy solution. Following is what I consider to be the Basics of Solar.

As I see it, solar energy is harnessed by three means – Passive, Thermal and Photovoltaic. In my previous post, I addressed Passive and Thermal Solar.

Photovoltaic Solar
Technology becomes the harnessing mechanism here. The photovoltaic process is a simple transference of the suns radiation into electricity. Specifically, silicon chips (similar to those used in computer technology) absorb the suns rays, photons from the sun force electrons into a state of high energy, which then creates direct current electricity. This electricity can be stored in rechargeable batteries, or run through an inverter to be converted into alternating current for home use.
At present, a photovoltaic system in a residential application should be considered supplemental to grid-supplied power, not a substitute for. The inefficiencies and technological realities do not yet allow this system to afford its user energy independence. The addition of an array of batteries to store energy does add a certain degree of grid independence, not total, but also adds a significant cost to the system.
The future of Photovoltaic Solar technology (pun alert) is bright. Many of the brightest minds that helped shape the PC revolution have started to shift over to PV. It seems certain that the technology will become more efficient and cheaper over time. Even now, there exist significant tax breaks and other incentives for those willing to venture headfirst into our energy future. For those who make the commitment now, they do so out of an understanding of a societal need to shift our energy resource perspective, not out of a desire to save money. In time, we will all be able to realize the advantages of PV for all the right reasons.

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

Solar Basics, Part 1

In my opinion, our sun offers an energy source that is virtually inexhaustible, plentiful, and relatively easy to harness. Solar energy should and will be a huge part of our overall energy solution. So, you might ask: How do we harness the sun’s energy? I’m glad you asked. Following is what I consider to be the Basics of Solar.

As I see it, solar energy is harnessed by three means – Passive, Thermal and Photovoltaic. Following is a quick overview of Passive and Thermal.

Passive Solar
This is the direct interaction of our environment & us with the sun. There is no physical mechanism that serves to harness the energy. Instead, there is an intellectual mechanism – common sense.
We are a witness of and participant in Passive Solar every day. It is the warmth of the sun’s rays on our skin or the movement of air as it warms and shifts. Common sense serves to remind us to use sunscreen when exposed for prolonged periods of time. Common sense should also afford us the knowledge to take advantage of Passive Solar energy in our homes.
Given the opportunity, a home should be oriented on an east/west line, exposing it to the travels of the sun in the south. With a proper overhang, the suns heat can be blocked during the warm summer months when it travels high, and allowed inside during the cooler winter months when its warmth is welcome. Light can be allowed in through the use of clerestory windows configured in a way such that the light is forced to reflect and diffuse before entering the interior spaces, which also serves to eliminate the damaging UV rays.

Thermal Solar
This is the harnessing of the sun’s heat. Generally, it is used for the purposes of heating water. Most commonly, it used to heat pools or to supplement the task of a water heater.
The harnessing mechanism here is a heat-absorbing element through which water is pumped and subsequently distributed. In its most simplistic form, this mechanism is comprised of black, or dark, pipes or tubing enclosed in box with a glass panel. The heat is trapped and absorbed by the pipes or tubing and transmitted to the water as it passes through. Of course, it’s not a perfect system, as more energy is required to pump the water through the somewhat larger network.

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

The End of Oil

So, apparently, we as a species are facing the end of an age that has defined our time on earth, perhaps more than any previous period of time. We are on the precipice of the end of oil. Within the big picture of the entire history of the universe, our love/hate relationship with the age of oil will be merely a blip in the continuum. We will find ourselves on the other side either living more as we did 200 years ago, or thriving in a new age of technological innovation and global enlightenment. I’m hopeful for the latter.
I’m confident that we, as the dominant species of this relatively small rock, can and will overcome greed, hunger for power, and lack of foresight to unite in a common goal to explore for and harness new sources for energy.
The dialog is presently at a fever pitch. The question I would put forward is this: Why didn’t this dialog, once begun, continue on to its conclusion over 30 years ago during the energy crisis? The cynical answer is obvious: Big Oil wasn’t prepared to take control of whatever new technology or resources might emerge, and thus, began the process of squelching and/or buying up these new technologies and resources as they emerged (“Who Killed the Electric Car?) Another explanation might be that we, as consumers, weren’t ready or eager to make the necessary sacrifices that such a large-scale shift in life-style and perspective would require.
In any case, here we are. Myriad possible energy sources are being investigated, and, over time, the most feasible and effective will filter out and vie for the position of successor to oil. I’m betting on solar, though I think the final solution will be a combination of several energy sources and technologies. So, it is now incumbent upon me to become more educated about these energy sources and technologies and how they will impact the spaces where we live and work, and then to subsequently share the knowledge.

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com