Passive and Active Solar Systems for Buildings
15 June 2009 | Green Technology | 1 Comment
The adaptation of urban buildings to the specific environmental conditions of cities in order to incorporate efficiently solar and energy-saving measures and couterbalance the radical changes and transformations of the radiative, thermal, moisture and aerodynamin characteristics of the urban environment is a major priority.This incorporates appropriate sizing and placing of the building openings, to promote solar energy utilization, enchance air flow and natural ventilation and improve daylight aviability, integration of photovoltaics and also the use of passive cooling tedhniques to decrease cooling energy consumption and improve thermal comfort. (more…)
Solar Cooling for Businesses and Apartments
11 April 2009 | Solar Power | 1 Comment
As described in erlier chapters, solar energy can produce electricity and heat.A range of heat-fired appliances running on natural gas has recently been introduced to the market-place.The most interesting of these are absorption coolers used in larger builgings for natural gas-powered air-conditioning systems.Absorbption cooling if efficient and reliable, and becoming more common in the traditional marketplace.
Happily, products on market today include a solar absorption cooling system for commercial applications and schools.These are natural gas units in which a solar collector is used during the day to direct heat to the absorption cooler.At night or on rainy days, the bsorbption cooler is heated with natural gas.The company also incorporates solar water heating and solar daylighting in many of their installations to offset even more energy costs.Since the energy used to cool your buildings is one of the largest components of energy bills, this technology will be a solid long-term investment for businesses or government buildings.
As with other solar options,longer-term financing and a lower interest rate will ensure a reliable monthly net gain on energy costs.