Investing in Solar Electricity. What’s the Payback?

What is the energy payback for photovoltaics? Producing electricity with solar photovoltaics (PV) emits no pollution, produces no greenhouse gases, and uses no finite fossil-fuel resources. The environmental benefits of PV are great. But just as we say that it takes money to make money, it also takes energy to save energy. The term “energy […]


Window Options for Passive Solar Power

Most of us are aware that windows provide us with natural light, ventilation, and a view. But windows still remain the least understood building design component, even though many homeowners place much importance on the functioning and energy efficiency of their windows. Windows transmit not only sunlight but also both indoor heat and solar heat […]


Passive Solar Design, Options, and Cost

A passive solar home is an exceptional home, differing from standard construction in the thermal integrity of its shell and its well-considered design. The design options, employing the principles and methods described here, are endless. However, workmanship is always extremely important when installing insulation, air sealing the building envelope, and installing the windows. Most successful […]


Five Elements of Passive Solar Design

Here are the five elements that constitute a complete passive solar design, using a direct gain design as an example. Each performs a separate function, but all five must work together for the system to be successful. Aperture (Collector): the large glass (window) area through which sunlight enters the building. Typically, the aperture(s) should face […]


Basic Passive Solar Design Techniques

Passive solar homes range from those heated almost entirely by the sun to those with south facing windows that provide some fraction of the heating load. The difference between a passive solar home and a conventional home is design. And the key is designing a passive solar home to best take advantage of the local […]


The Physics of Heat Movement

Part 1 of Passive Solar Design for the Home. Your home’s windows, walls, and floors can be designed to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer. This is called passive solar design or climatic design because, unlike active solar heating systems, […]


Heating Water with Solar Energy

Another way to use renewable energy in your home is to use solar energy for water heating. Today’s systems carry a rating that tells you how well they’ll meet your hot water needs. And they provide a clean, reliable, and cost-effective source of hot water. Solar water heaters can be either active or passive. An […]


Solar Energy in a New Home, or When Extensively Renovating an Old One

An architect can examine the energy performance of your house in terms of how each of the components—the insulation, windows, heating and cooling system, ventilation, and lighting— all work together. This approach, called “whole-house” design, allows the architect to optimize each of these components for your location to achieve the best energy performance at an […]


Use More Solar Energy in Your Existing Home

In an existing home, any renovation or window replacement project is an opportunity to improve your home’s energy performance. Most existing homes have poorly insulated, leaky windows that would be cost effective to replace. When replacing windows, consider increasing the windows on the south side of your home and decreasing the windows on the north, […]


Clean Choices for Heating, Cooling, and Lighting: RENEWABLE ENERGY AT HOME

Part 12 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. Heating and cooling uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your home. Typically, 44% of your utility bill goes for heating and cooling. What’s more, heating and cooling systems in the United States together emit more than a half-billion […]


Solar Energy (PV) Systems Self-Generation: Make your own power

Part 7 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. Photovoltaic cells produce direct current (DC) electricity. About 40 cells are joined together in enclosed, protective casings called modules. About ten of these modules are mounted in one PV panel. These flatplate PV panels can be mounted facing south, or they can be mounted on […]


Clean Energy Choices for Today

Part 4 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. The following briefly describes renewable energy technologies that might be offered in green pricing programs or competitive markets in your area. If you do not currently have the option to choose your electricity supplier, contact your utility to find out what their plans are regarding […]


Photovoltaics: What Else to Consider

No PV system is maintenance-free. Schedule regular inspections of your system to ensure that the wiring and contacts are free from corrosion, the modules are clear of debris, and the mounting equipment has tight fasteners. You should also monitor the power output of your PV modules, the state-of-charge and electrolyte level of your batteries, and […]


Is My Site Adequate/How Does Weather Affect Photovoltaics?

This diagram illustrates the annual average daily peak sun hours for the United States. Is My Site Adequate for PV? APV system designer can conduct a detailed site assessment for you. To save the dealer time (and possibly save yourself some money), you can conduct a preliminary assessment to determine whether your site has potential […]


How To Select a Photovoltaic Dealer

Choosing a PV professional will be one of your most important decisions. If you choose a competent dealer, you won’t need to know all the details of designing, purchasing, and installing your PV system. Instead, you can rely on the dealer’s expertise to design and install a system that meets your needs. However, just like […]


What is PV Solar Power Used For?

Many people are familiar with PV-powered calculators and watches, the most common small-scale applications of PV. However, there are numerous large-scale, cost-effective PV applications, including: Water pumping for small-scale remote irrigation, stock watering, residential uses, remote villages, and marine sump pumps; Lighting for residential needs, billboards, security, highway signs, streets and parking lots, pathways, recreational […]


Photovoltaics: Basic Design Principles and Components

If you are thinking of generating your own electricity, you should consider a photovoltaic (PV) system—a way to generate electricity by using energy from the sun. These systems have several advantages: they are cost-effective alternatives in areas where extending a utility power line is very expensive; they have no moving parts and require little maintenance; […]


Zero Energy Community, Vista Monta

Part 1 of Zero Energy Community. Vista Montaña In August 2003, Clarum Homes opened the doors at Vista Montaña, California’s largest Zero Energy Home community, with homes designed to use almost zero net electricity over the course of a year. Built on a former apple orchard, all homes in the development will harvest the sun to […]


Energy Savings Glossary

Part 5 of Learn About Saving Energy. Coal:A solid fossil fuel found in the earth. Coal is burned to make electricity. Compact fluorescent lights (CFL) or Compact fluorecent bulbs (CFB): Lights that use a lot less energy than regular light bulbs. We can use compact fluorescent lights for reading lights and ceiling lights. Energy: Energy […]


Heat Your Water With The Sun

Part 1 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. Would you like to learn more about how the sun can help meet your home’s heating needs without straining your budget? Today’s solar heating systems not only keep swimming pools warm— they can also heat much of your home’s water and interior space. Their popularity is […]