Solar Power and Heating Options
There are two basic types of solar for use around the home or business: Active Systems and Passive Systems.
Active Solar or Photo Voltaic Systems
Active systems are used to generate electricity so you can power appliances and electronics. These systems consist of Photo Voltaic (PV) cells arranged in an array or grid that when combined with storage and power converters (power inverter) can, in theory; literally run anything powered by electricity.
While there are a number of different types of solar cells and panels used in this type of system (too many and too complicated to discuss here), the main thing you need to know about this type of system is that you will either use the normal electrical power grid to store and/supplement your homes energy needs or you will be using a bank of batteries to store the days excess energy for powering your home/office during darkness and cloudy conditions.
Some folks even use a combination of the two so that they have a backup power source if the main utility power goes out. I’m actually planning on just such a system for my home as we frequently lose power during winter months.
Each of the systems has it’s merits but the main thing you’ll want to consider here is cost. The off grid system is going to cost more as you will need a good quantity of batteries to store the energy generated from the solar panels. If you are building a home where grid (public) power is not available or where you need to pay the power company a large sum to run the wires to your home site, then it can get to the point where the off grid system is more cost effective.
Where possible, a grid connected system with a smaller bank of batteries that act as a short term backup system is my recommended install if you can afford it. The one good thing about active solar systems is that once you have one… even a small one installed, it becomes easy to add to it so long as you have the room for more panels and/or batteries. When you are connected to the public power grid, you do have the ability to start small and add to the system over time. Off grid systems must be capable of handling your complete power needs from the start.
Plan for as much solar power as you can afford without exceeding your needs or breaking the bank. If you are going off grid, try your best to plan for serge power needs that may come up from time to time such as around the holidays. You’ll be so glad you did.
Passive Solar Systems
Passive Solar, unlike active, generates no electricity on it’s own. Passive Solar systems are meant to use the suns energy to heat things only. Passive solar design is simply placing as much glass area on the sunny side of your home in the cold fall and winter months and having enough mass available to store the heat from the sun’s rays.
Mass is simply water, rock, concrete, sand… anything that will absorb the sun’s heat and then release it slowly throughout the night.
Solar water heaters are also a good example of a passive solar concept. Black glass tubes are arranged on the roof or on a wall facing the sun year round inside what looks similar to a solar power panel. The sun heats the water inside the tubes and the water is pumped into a water heater or hot water storage tank for use as needed.
While passive solar design is best suited for planning before you build, solar water heaters and added passive solar mass storage areas can be added to supplement existing homes and businesses heating systems. Just remember that the plumbing to transfer the heated water or air is going to need to be added somewhere on the structure.
My dream home design that I’m planning now uses both active and passive solar to maximize my solar advantage and minimize my need for electricity and heat from the public utility grid. I’ll pay more up front, but my utility bills should be next to nothing for life of the home.
Summery
Plan to use both active and passive solar as much as possible in any new home/business design to get maximum benefits from the sun.
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Coming up: Solar Advantages After You Build, Your Landscaping Can Save you Money
Wes Waddell
Tags: build your own solar house, building solar tips ideas, do it yourself solar, how to cut your utility costs, passive solar designs, photovoltaic
