Passive Solar Energy: What it is and What it Has to Offer
The issue of solar energy and the benefits it offers has never been of more importance than it is today. This is largely due to serious environmental issues such as global warming, which are now of great concern. Solar energy is good to the environment because it does not produce any waste or pollution, and is really the mother of all renewable resources in the world today.
Solar energy is a renewable resource that is environmentally friendly and unlike fossil fuels it is available just about everywhere on earth. It is also free which is another major benefit, and therefore it is immune to rising energy prices.
Passive Solar Energy
There are a few different types of solar energy, passive solar energy being one of the primary forms. The term passive that is used here indicates that there is no additional mechanical equipment used, other than the normal building elements of course. Rather, all of the passive solar gains are brought in through windows. In fact, the most commonly used building component in passive solar energy is windows, and advanced windows in particular can actually be net energy suppliers, with better net annual energy performance than even the most tightly insulated wall.
The Details
Passive solar energy is best when incorporated into a building during the initial design, as it will then offer the best results. In heating climates, large south facing windows should be used, as these have the most exposure to the sun in all seasons and therefore will allow you to retrieve the absolute most solar energy possible.
It is important to understand that passive solar systems utilize really the most basic concepts incorporated into the architectural design of the building. Also keep in mind that the most important characteristic of any passive solar energy design is that it is holistic, and that it is going to take into consideration such factors as local climate conditions, such as temperature, solar radiation and wind, in order to create climate-responsive and energy conserving structures.
Solar energy offers many benefits and the more you understand about solar energy the more you are going to be able to take advantage of these wonderful benefits. Not only will you be benefiting yourself but also the environment, as by using solar energy you are using energy that is not going to do damage to the environment, something that is especially important today where issues such as global warming are facing us with such detriment.
