| The sun is a very powerful source of energy which | | | | system can provide for up to 60% of your water |
| powers natural cycles on earth like wind, water flow | | | | heating needs. Indeed, studies have shown that one |
| and plant growth.. Solar power is the technology of | | | | square metre on your roof receives the equivalent of |
| obtaining energy from the sun. There are three | | | | more than 100 litres of oil in free solar energy per year. |
| approaches to gain maximum benefit of solar energy | | | | Solar panels, generally located on a south-facing roof, |
| in our buildings. | | | | transform solar radiation into heat which is stored in a |
| Passive Solar | | | | large hot water cylinder for whenever you need it. |
| Passive solar technologies convert sunlight into usable | | | | Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System |
| heat without the assistance of other energy sources. | | | | Photovoltaics, or PV for short, is a solar power |
| Passive solar architecture is a design approach which | | | | technology that uses solar cells or solar photovoltaic |
| seeks to: | | | | arrays to convert energy from the sun into electricity. |
| - maximise solar gains in the building (through orientation | | | | Solar cells produce direct current electricity from the |
| such as a south-facing site, layout, glazing etc) | | | | sun's rays, which can be used to recharge a battery |
| - avoid the loss of heat from the building through high | | | | or to power equipment. When more power is required |
| quality insulation | | | | than a single cell can deliver, cells are generally |
| - ensure a high degree of comfort by using controlled | | | | grouped together to form "PV modules", or solar |
| ventilation and daylighting | | | | panels, that may in turn be arranged in arrays. |
| Passive solar systems have little to no operating costs, | | | | Solar arrays are increasingly incorporated into new |
| often have low maintenance costs, and emit no | | | | domestic and industrial buildings as a principal or |
| greenhouse gases in operation. Passive solar principles | | | | ancillary source of electrical power. In a typical |
| can help reduce heating requirements of a home by | | | | installation, an array is incorporated into the building |
| up to 80%. | | | | (roof or walls). In this way, Solar PV can be used to |
| The Passive House Standard can be found at | | | | provide free solar electricity to houses. Recent |
| Active Solar Heating | | | | developments in regulation mean that it will shortly be |
| Active Solar technologies are employed to convert | | | | possible to connect solar PV systems to the grid, |
| solar energy into usable heat, cause air movement for | | | | opening up a new era for solar PV in Ireland. Arrays |
| ventilation or cooking or store heat for future use. | | | | can also be retro-fitted into existing buildings, normally |
| Unlike Passive Solar, Active Solar uses electrical or | | | | by sitting them atop the existing roof. One new feature |
| mechanical equipment such as pumps and fans to | | | | of note came in August 2006 when Currys, the major |
| increase the usable heat. The most common use of | | | | high-street retailer decided to stock PV modules at a |
| active solar in Europe is Solar water heating. It is | | | | cost of a thousand pounds sterling per module. |
| estimated that a correctly sized solar water heating | | | | |