Green Term Defined: Solar

Solar is sexy. You see it on television, read about it in newspapers, and see it on roofs. Going green and adding solar walk hand in hand in the mass media. However, many don’t understand all the options and implications of using solar energy in building structures.

DSC02701

Passive Solar Design – windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, and

distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer

Solar Thermal Systems – a technology for harnessing solar energy for thermal energy (heat)

2011-12-12_09-47-22_42

 

Solar Photovoltaic Systems – an arrangement of components designed to supply usable electric power

solar house

Solar Air Systems – a solar thermal technology in which the energy from the sun, solar isolation, is captured by an absorbing medium and used to heat air

IMG_3747

Trombe Wall – a thermal mass wall that is located within a structure used to absorb solar energy during the daylight hours and radiate that energy back out at night
Light Shelf – an architectural element that allows daylight to penetrate deep into a building. This horizontal light-reflecting overhang is placed above eye-level and has a high-reflectance upper surface. This surface is then used to reflect daylight onto the ceiling and deeper into a space.

IMG_0696

Insulated Curtains  – a piece ofcloth intended to block or obscure light, or drafts

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Related Posts

We love Harrisonburg downtown

We love Harrisonburg downtown

Recently Harrisonburg has been getting national press for what we already know about our community: it's an ...
Ready Your Home for Winter Weather

Ready Your Home for Winter Weather

These cold mornings have me thinking about how much I appreciate the work done to make my old house more ...
Design Strategies to Make Your Kitchen More Functional

Design Strategies to Make Your Kitchen More Functional

Is your kitchen ready for the big day? Thanksgiving is coming. Turkey Day is upon us and that means some of ...
Finding Balance in Architecture School

Finding Balance in Architecture School

By Aliyah D. White.   Now that I have earned my B.S. in architecture, I want to shed some light on the effect ...