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Active Solar Power

Active Solar Power. Courtney Maynard Rachel Teets Thomas Stergiadis . What is it?. Active solar power is different from passive solar, first because sun is actually being collected and converted into a different energy source. . Uses and Functions of Active Solar.

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Active Solar Power

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  1. Active Solar Power Courtney Maynard Rachel Teets Thomas Stergiadis

  2. What is it? • Active solar power is different from passive solar, first because sun is actually being collected and converted into a different energy source.

  3. Uses and Functions of Active Solar • Active solar technologies are employed to convert solar energy into usable heat, cause air-movement for ventilation or cooling, or store heat for future use. • Applications for active solar energy include heating swimming pools, domestic hot water use, ventilation and industrial process air and water for commercial facilities such as laundries, car washes and fitness centers.

  4. How do Solar Panels Work? • Active solar systems use solar collectors and additional electricity to power pumps or fans to distribute the sun's energy. • The heart of a solar collector is a black absorber which converts the sun's energy into heat. • The heat is then transferred to another location for immediate heating or for storage for use later. • The heat is transferred by circulating water, antifreeze or sometimes air.

  5. How the pipes transfer and transport the heat:

  6. Uses of Solar Panels • Solar panels are used in previously built homes for converting suns energy to electricity • Homes built with panel adaptations use the sun for mostly heat energy • There are also different fields consisting of only solar panels, whose energy is then transferred to other areas via pipes

  7. Solar compared to Non-renewables • It is a lot cheaper to use. • It is not subjected to the cost of gasoline. • It supports job growth and new business. • It keeps your house or business running even when there is a power outage. • It decreases the harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

  8. Non-renewables replaced • It reduces our dependence on foreign oil • It also healthier to use than gas and other non-renewables • It is much cleaner to use than gas or coal which saves the environment

  9. Challenges of Active Solar use • A challenge that stops this form being the primary source of energy is that it is expensive to set up all the solar panels. • Solar panels for heating cannot be added to houses that are already in existence • It is sometimes difficult for certain areas to use solar panels depending on amount of sun available and if an area is available for piping systems

  10. Overcoming the Challenges • In sunny areas, people will not have a pool bill for eight or nine warmer months • Solar panels added to use for electricity can be added to previous homes • Solar power is free of charge. After the initial cost of installation they will only produce new energy • There are also “do it yourself” solar panel set ups that cost much less than the thousands of dollars of hired installation. • Solar energy will never run out, like non-renewables

  11. Where is Active Solar being used • Active Solar energy is able to be used anywhere where there is sun, though it is most popular in the west and southern states. • In Las Vegas Active Solar energy is used in many pools saving thousands of dollars on electricity bills. • Actually producing enough energy to power 40,000 homes • Unfortunately a lot of communities wont accept Solar Power as an energy source

  12. Where is active solar and a transition to becoming mainstream • Recently, California is pushing to make active solar energy mainstream. • Right now with costs of installation and maintenance, the payback time is too long for most people, • If it becomes more popular, these costs will lower and mainstream active solar power will become realistic • Also solar power is becoming very popular in the Europe

  13. To make active solar power into a mainstream energy source there will have to be more advertisement and greater public awareness On a national level, there will have to be land set aside for solar panel fields and the pipes containing the heat energy Larger market may lead to reduced production costs Incentives and subsidies would reduce costs. The cost of conventional fuel could be increased by appropriate policy measures Mainstream?

  14. Active Solar energy in Michigan • Active solar panels for electricity can be added to almost any home • New homes that are being built can have internal systems • Michigan has a lot of free space that can serve as solar fields • Because of Michigan’s climate, there would be less energy in the winter months available • Active solar energy though can store what is collected to be used later

  15. Sites Used • "Active Solar | Solar, Active, Passive, Heat, Have | Eco House Footprint." Eco House Footprint - Home. 05 Feb. 2009 <http://www.ecohousefootprint.com/Solar- and-Renewable-Energy/Active-Solar.html>. • "Active solar." ESRU Home Page. 05 Feb. 2009 <http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/01- 02/RE_info/active_solar.htm>. • "Great Locations for Solar Panels | DIYEnergy.org." DIY-Energy.org - Do it Yourself Alternative Energy for Home or Business. 05 Feb. 2009 <http://www.diy- energy.org/great-locations-for-solar-panels>. • Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the Environment. Belmont: Brooks/Cole, 2001.

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