Forty years ago, Harold Hay, 98, invented a simple, inexpensive way to heat and cool a home using the sun’s rays, but without the panels and wiring that come with conventional solar energy systems.

He’s been pushing for its adoption ever since, trying to find footing in each of the solar industry’s last three boom-and-bust cycles.

Yet, despite the merits of his pioneering technology, the energy establishment has shown only fleeting interest.

As Gore said, quoting Upton Sinclair “it is hard to get someone to understand something — if their salary depends upon not understanding it.”

When it comes to climate change, those who refuse to act are mostly those without imagination, or those whose financial interests support the status quo. Passive solar systems cost little or nothing to operate, and so represent a serious threat to the fossil fuel industry.

Hay’s system keeps a house between 65-75 degrees year-round with virtually no electricity. What’s the catch? It requires the house to be built from scratch, and built strong enough to hold a roof-sized pond of water. Still, to have no heating or cooling bills for the life of the home? Wow. [Click the story link at the top of the article for a video of this house and how the system works.]

Even if people didn’t want to have flat roofs, I see no reason why they couldn’t heavily insulate their home and locate the solar pond elsewhere on their property. Then they could use pumps and heat-exchangers to take advantage of the water’s thermal mass. Certainly this could be a great way to cool apartments and commercial buildings as well.

Cheap electricity, fuel oil, and natural gas have kept people using energy-hogging central furnaces and forced-air systems, generating countless gigatons of CO2 for decades. Solutions such as the Skytherm house are as simple and elegant as it gets and produce no CO2. Only two things stand between our current situation and a clean planet and better life: greed and inertia.

Carbon taxes will make the status quo prohibitive, and force many of these types of solutions. There are many details to be worked out, of course, but a better national energy policy can turn this sad situation of needless energy waste around. There’s no excuse anymore, it’s just common sense. It’s high time for solar energy to stop being a science project and get mainstreamed

Have you been thinking about changing your power source over to renewable energy? I have also listed some of the Solar Energy Cons. A person can’t sincerely arrive at an honest conclusion without acknowledging the advantages and minuses. You should check into every aspect of changing over before approaching to your ultimate conclusion.There are more Pros that are not listed here that may or will not be essential to you depending upon your stance regarding the environment.

* Solar energy is a renewable resource. It doesn’t induce pollution while you generate it.
* Sunlight, unlike fossil fuels is all over, all though it is not evenly dispensed throughout the world. Solar energy can be made anywhere, even when there are no local utility supplier, therefore you are able to have power in inaccessible areas.
* With the correct resources, the components necessary to construct a solar system can be bought or produced rather inexpensively
* The nicest matter about solar power is that it’s costless to all.
* The engineering in use to implement solar radiation as energy to get electricity, heat, and mechanical power currently exists
* Solar systems possess no moving elements and can last numerous years.
* You don’t require fuel to be delivered to your home, and you will never run out.
* Granted the correct data, it’s almost always possible to forecast the amount of power a solar energy system will give.
* The systems are silent and becoming more and more unnoticeable.
* You will be able to qualify for financial incentives from the government to assist with paying for your system and also get tax breaks while it is in use.
* Using solar energy means one less home burning fossil fuels, and reduces the creation of greenhouse gas.

Solar Energy Cons

I’ve listed the Cons for using Solar Energy as well. Although there aren’t many disadvantages, they should still be weighed in.

* If you don’t know where to get the components at a discount, the original costs can be kind of high.
* Solar panels can require a lot of space. That’s why the roof is the optimal location for them to be set up.
* You can’t generate solar energy at nighttime, so you need a way to store it. Batteries are a good energy storage choice. With the right information, you can purchase batteries for as low a $10 apiece or even free!
* Bad weather conditions can impact the amount of energy generated.

As you can see the Solar Energy Pros overbalance the Solar Energy Cons. If you are worried about the environment and you also acknowledge the income saving potential of using solar power, then this can be a good path for you to choose. I think that someday in our lifetime, solar power will become a more popular choice. By harnessing the power of sunshine, the Earth could change for the better one home at a time. Besides, our grandchildren will appreciate it.

Green energy is the newest movement in for home owners, and solar energy is one of the more popular options.  Through the use of the various types of solar energy, homes and be heated and provided with electricity without causing any damage to the environment. For modern applications, solar energy can be used for several different reasons.  Those are;

• Heating
• Cooling
• Water Heating
• Light
• Electricity Generation

Each of these, aside from generating electricity, comes in two distinct forms, active and passive.  The difference is simple, active solar energy require extensive interference from technology in order to harness solar power, while passive gets solar energy without the use of any technology.

The sun has long been considered to be one of the greatest natural energy sources known to man.  Now, through both careful planning and creative technology, you can harness solar energy to help deplete your need for the use of fossil fuels.  Here is a breakdown of the different types of solar energy.

Heating

The sun naturally gives off the heat that makes this planet habitable, so why not use it to heat things like your home, office, or even your car.  Both active and passive solar heating can easily be achieved.  Passive solar heating is by far the better of the two options.  It involve the use of large windows appropriately oriented to get maximum exposure to the sun.  These large windows slightly focus the sun’s rays, slightly magnifying them, heating the inside of the structure.  For those that live in the northern hemisphere, your large windows should face south.  Those in the southern hemisphere, north.  These windows should be double paned and appropriately size to maximize sun exposure.  They should also not be blocked by vegetation or landscaping, providing them with a constant exposure to the sun.

There are two types of active solar heating (solar heating achieved through the use of technology).  Those types are liquid or air based heating system.  Liquid systems use the solar power to heat water, typically through tiles and boards on the roof, then store the hot water in a storage tank.  This water is then either used to fuel a blower, distributing hot air through the home, or the hot water is run through the different structures of the home, like the floors and walls.  Air systems heat air using solar power, then pump it through the home just like a furnace would.

Cooling

Passive solar cooling is much simpler than it sounds.  It involves orienting the home so that it can naturally take advantage of things like wind flow, shade, and the sun’s natural arc.  Consider it to be the opposite to passive solar heating, at least in theory.  Setting up windows in your home to promote a good wind flow in your home will help keep it cool in summer, and having the appropriate windows size will help to reduce the amount of solar heat generated.  Adequate ventilation will keep a nice breeze flowing in your home, keeping you cooler in the hotter months.  You can also incorporate vegetation and other types of landscaping into passive cooling.  A large shade tree will help keep the sun’s rays off your home, or planting a thick climbing vine, like ivy, can help to reduce the amount of heat your home takes on from the sun.

Active solar cooling comes in three majorly used forms.  While many of these are not commonly used in the home quite yet, they have proven quite successful in larger buildings and office complexes.  Solar absorption is an air conditioner fuels by heated liquids.  When the liquids are heated by the sun’s energy, they separate from other substances, starting the air conditioner.  A desiccant system works differently than your traditional air conditioner.  If forces the air from a building though a filtering system that removes humidity from the air, making the building feel cooler.  Then, solar energy is used to dry out the filtration system.

The final can be considered a form of active solar cooling, but it is more a form of electricity generation.  It is included with active solar cooling because it makes perfect sense.  Photovoltaic cooling uses solar panels to generate electricity for a standard air conditioner.  Though there may be some conversion of power involved, a solar panel can more than adequately provide enough energy to to fuel a standard central air unit.  Since you primarily run your air conditioner on those hot, and sunny, summer days, why not use it to your advantage.  Setting up a system like this can save you a fortune on your summer heating bills.

Water Heating

We use a lot of water in our homes, but for cleaning and bathing purposes, we use mostly hot water.  Unfortunately, passive solar energy will not heat water enough for common application in the home.  Hot water much reach a certain temperature before it can be used to clean.

To get around this, there are two active solar water heat

ing systems, direct and indirect.  More commonly referred to as an open loop system, direct water heating systems push the water through solar heating panels to raise it to a certain temperature.  Then, the water is stored in an insulated collection tank, which serves as your hot water reserve.  It is pumped from there to the faucets of your home.  The water is continuously moved through the solar panels, constantly heating the water supply.

The closed loop system (indirect) is highly similar, but instead of pumping the water itself through the solar panels, the pumps a heating fluid.  Once this fluid is hot, it is pumped through the water supply, heating it in a similar fashion to a pot full of water on the stove.  From the hot water reserve, it is distributed to your home.

Light

This may seem like common sense, but creating a home designed to function off of passive solar energy is more complex than you would think.  It can involve several architectural changes and the possibility for a complete adaptation of your living space.  Passive solar lighting involves the use of large windows and sun lights to allow natural light in the entire time the sun is up, eliminating the need to turn on a single light during the daytime.  Having several windows that face south and sun lights (windows in the ceiling) are good starts, but you must also keep these free from obstructions.  You will also need to consider the natural arc of your day.  You wake up at sunrise, and go to sleep at sunset.  You will use your kitchen several times a day, and you will primarily use your living room in the evening.  So, since the sun moves from east to west, your bedroom should be on the east side of your home (first light during the day, completely dark by bedtime), the kitchen should be on the south side of your home (constant light throughout the day, should be on the north side for those in the southern hemisphere), and you living room should be on the west side of the home, so it will be able to harness the evening sun for light.  Using passive solar lighting can really add a new dynamic to your home.

Active solar lighting comes in two types of solar energy, either through electricity generation of photovoltaic lighting.  Most homes will need a complex energy generation system to light an entire home, but this type of system would be used to provide your entire home with electricity.  Photovoltaic lighting is most commonly used on the outside of the home.  These lights create enough energy to run that individual light through smaller photo-reactive electric semiconductors.  These semiconductors produce small amount of electricity when exposed to sunlight.  This energy is stored in the light until it gets dark, when the light will automatically turn on.  These are commonly used to light gardens, walkways, driveways, and various architectural structures.

Electricity Generation

This is what most people will think of when you mention any type of solar energy.  It is the use of technology to turn solar energy into usable electricity, which can then power anything you want to in the home.  This is thanks to photovoltaics.  Certain substances can convert solar energy into electricity, and placing several panels made of these photo-reactive substances can be used to generate a substantial amount of electricity.  Now how does this work in the home.

To start, your home will stay hooked to the grid, that way you will never go without power.  Solar panels, made of these photovoltaic material, are installed on your roof, typically facing south to gather the most sun light.  When solar energy hits these panels , is generates electricity, which then flows through a converter to change it from a DC current to an AC current.  This energy is then used first to power your home, or, with certain systems, it can be stored for future use.  One of the bigger advantages is that energy you don’t use can back flow through your connection to the power company.  This provide the power company with additional energy, and pushes your meter back, lowering your bill when you’re not using your stores of solar power.

Electricity generation can be used to only power specific appliances as well.  This is a good gradual step into green energy.  Photo-reactive solar panels are used to power individual large appliances, eliminating their need to be attached to the grid, lowering your energy bill.  This can be set up to work on things like electric stoves, washers, dryers, air conditioners, or a number of large appliances found in the home.  Imagine eliminating your air conditioner from your electric bill during those hot summer months.

Here’s a look at some things we can expect in the future from solar technologies.

All our buildings will feature energy-efficient design, construction, and materials as well as renewable energy technologies. In effect, each building will both conserve energy and produce its own supply, to be one of a new generation of cost-effective “zero-energy buildings” that have no net annual need for nonrenewable energy.

In photovoltaic research and development, there will be more breakthroughs in new materials, cell designs, and novel approaches to product development. In a solar future, your mode of transportation—and even the clothes you wear—could produce clean, safe electric power.

With today’s technology roadmaps to lead the way, concentrating solar power will be fully competitive with conventional power-generating technologies within a decade. Concentrating solar power, or solar thermal electricity, could harness enough of the sun’s energy to provide large-scale, domestically secure, and environmentally friendly electricity, especially in the southwestern United States.

The enormous solar power potential of the Southwest—comparable in scale to the huge hydropower resource of the Northwest—will be realized. A desert area 10 miles by 15 miles could provide 20,000 megawatts of power, and the electricity needs of the entire United States could theoretically be met by a photovoltaic array within an area 100 miles on a side.

Within 10 years, photovoltaic power will be competitive in price with traditional sources of electricity.

Solar electricity will be used in an electrolysis process that separates the hydrogen and oxygen in water so the hydrogen can be used in fuel cells for transportation and in buildings.

Just as solar energy can heat the water for a building, it can also heat and cool the air.

Space Heating

A solar space-heating system can consist of a passive system, an active system, or a combination of both. Passive systems are typically less costly and less complex than active systems. However, when retrofitting a building, active systems might be the only option for obtaining solar energy.

Passive Solar Space Heating

Passive solar space heating takes advantage of warmth from the sun through design features, such as large south-facing windows, and materials in the floors or walls that absorb warmth during the day and release that warmth at night when it is needed most. A sunspace or greenhouse is a good example of a passive system for solar space heating.

Passive solar design systems usually have one of three designs:

• Direct gain (the simplest system) stores and slowly releases heat energy collected from the sun shining directly into the building and warming materials such as tile or concrete. Care must be taken to avoid overheating the space.
• Indirect gain (similar to direct gain) uses materials that hold, store, and release heat; the material is located between the sun and living space (typically the wall).
• Isolated gain collects solar energy remote from the location of the primary living area. For example, a sunroom attached to a house collects warmer air that flows naturally to the rest of the house.

For more information about passive solar space heating, visit the EERE Passive Solar Heating, Cooling, and Daylighting page.

Active Solar Space Heating

Active solar space-heating systems consist of collectors that collect and absorb solar radiation combined with electric fans or pumps to transfer and distribute that solar heat. Active systems also generally have an energy-storage system to provide heat when the sun is not shining. The two basic types of active solar space-heating systems use either liquid or air as the heat-transfer medium in their solar energy collectors.

Liquid-based systems heat water or an antifreeze solution in a hydronic collector. Air-based systems heat air in an air collector. Air-based solar heating systems usually employ an air-to-water heat exchanger to supply heat to the domestic hot water system, making the system useful in the summertime. Both of these systems collect and absorb solar radiation, then transfer the solar heat directly to the interior space or to a storage system, from which the heat is distributed. An auxiliary or backup system provides heat when storage is discharged. Liquid systems are more often used when storage is included.

Here is a summary of the many different types of active solar space-heating systems:

Medium-temperature solar collectors are generally used for solar space heating. Solar space heating systems operate in much the same way as indirect solar water-heating systems, but they have a larger collector area, larger storage units, and more complex control systems. They are also usually configured to provide solar water heating and typically provide 30% to 70% of the residential heating, or combined heating and hot water, requirements. Active solar space-heating systems require more sophisticated design, installation, and maintenance techniques.

• A very economical, but specialized space heating system is based upon use of transpired air collectors, mounted as an exterior cladding on a south-facing wall. These systems are used for ventilation preheating. This system heats only outdoor air. These collectors are unglazed, and a blower or fan is used to draw air through perforations in the wall to deliver ventilation air into the building. Solar ventilation air preheating systems are generally used in commercial and industrial applications that require large quantities of ventilation air, including: a) buildings that require much outdoor ventilation, such as warehouses, large manufacturing plants, and airplane maintenance hangars; b) crop drying; and c) pre-heatingof boiler combustion air.

Space Cooling

Cooling and refrigeration can be accomplished using thermally activated cooling systems (TACS) driven by solar energy. These systems can provide year-round utilization of collected solar heat, thereby significantly increasing the cost effectiveness and energy contribution of solar installations. These systems are sized to provide 30% to 60% of building cooling requirements using solar, with the remainder usually dependent on TACS fueled by natural gas. The TACS available for solar-driven cooling include absorption systems and desiccant systems. Generally, solar cooling is not used because of the high initial costs of TACS and the solar fields needed to drive them.

• Solar absorption systems use the thermal energy from a solar collector to separate a binary mixture of an absorbent and a refrigerant fluid. The refrigerant is condensed, throttled, and evaporated to yield a cooling effect, which is then re-absorbed to continue the cycle. Double-effect absorption systems (which use the heat twice in series) are about twice as efficient as single-effect systems, but require significantly higher input temperatures. Because of the high temperature requirements of absorption cooling systems, evacuated-tube or concentrating collectors are typically used.
• Solar desiccant systems use thermal energy from the solar collector to regenerate dessicants that dry ambient air; they then use that dry air in indirect and/or direct evaporative stages to provide cooled air to the load. The solar heat is used to regenerate the desiccant, driving off the absorbed water. Some systems use flat-plate collectors at intermediate temperatures.

The word solar stems from the Roman word for the god of the sun, Sol.  Therefore, the word solar refers to the Sun and “solar power” is power from the Sun.

When we say something is solar powered, we mean that the energy it uses for power came directly from solar energy or sunlight energy.  The sun provides Earth with 2 major forms of energy, heat and light.  Some solar powered systems utilize the heat energy for heating while others transform the light energy into electrical energy (electricity).

There are many practical applications for solar power that are in use today.  Passive solar home designs utilize heat energy.  By slanting windows in a house and facing them to the south you can control the heat energy that enters the house.  During the winter when the Sun is low in the sky it shines into the window to warm and illuminate the house.  During the summer when the Sun is high in the sky the slant of the windows keeps the sunshine out so that the house stays cooler.

There are vehicles that run on solar power.  Some have PV panels as a direct power source that convert light energy into electricity to power their motors.  Since those cars will not run when the sun is not available it is more practical to have a car powered by batteries that can be recharged with solar energy.

In countries and locations where traditional power sources are not available it is more economical to power a house with solar energy.  To these people, solar is not an alternative energy; it is their primary energy source.