Posts Tagged ‘Thermal Mass’

Geothermal Heating – Renewable Energy That Can Save You 70% And Thousands On Heating

February 13th, 2010

Many of you are feeling the burden of high energy bills this heating or cooling season, which will leave you to wonder, is there something I can do about this? Heating costs are still climbing and are more volatile than ever. But there is a way to save 70% on your heating and cooling bill with technology that has efficiencies of 300-500%. Only one heating technology is able to achieve those kinds of numbers, and that is by using geothermal heating.

Geothermal heating (aka Ground Source Heat Pumps, GSHP’s, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Geoexchange, etc.) is basically a method of heating and cooling a building that pumps heat from the earth, into your home. To understand how that works, you have to understand how a heat pump works. Every one of you has a heat pump in one form or another in your home, weather it be a refrigerator, air conditioner, or air source heat pump. All a heat pump does is take heat from one place, put it through a refrigerant cycle, and move it to another place. A refrigerator takes heat from inside the refrigerator, and pumps it outside to the heat sink, which is the refrigerant coils on the back of the unit. GSHP’s work the same way, except the heat sink for the unit is a large ground loop buried in the earth. A liquid is circulated through the ground loop, and as that liquid moves, it absorbs the heat from the large thermal mass of earth. That temperature of earth is about 45-55 degrees F beneath the frost line all year round, so the heat pump runs great in the most extreme temperature situations. The circulated liquid is then put through the heat pump, which uses a refrigerant cycle to deliver the heat to your home’s distribution system, which can be either forced air or radiant heat.

Geothermal Heating has many advantages over a conventional system, with the biggest being a huge energy savings of 50-70% on heating and cooling bills. The heat pumps are extremely efficient with a COP (Coefficient of Performance) ranging from 3-5 (300-500% efficient), release no green house gasses, and don’t need to burn any heating fuel. They also run quietly, are very reliable, heat and cool with the same unit, and can generate a significant portion of your domestic hot water need, just as a byproduct of normal operation.

These amazing systems have always come with the stigma of a very high initial installation cost, which is somewhat true. A geothermal system will cost you more to install in your house than a conventional system, but there are a few huge factors that completely change this picture. The first is the amazing energy savings. A geothermal system will save you 70% on your heating and cooling bill during the year, which is thousands of dollars straight to your pocket. With winter heating costs in Northern climates reaching all time highs, while being very volatile, you can’t afford not to have a geothermal heating system.

The second is massive federal, state and utility company incentives. The federal government is currently offering a 30% federal tax credit towards the installation cost of a ground source heat pump system, which greatly offsets the cost to the owner. Most states also have significant incentives, and they can all be found on http://www.dsireusa.org. The federal government also has great, low-rate renewable energy loans, which take out the massive initial cost of a geothermal system.

Technorati Tags: Air Conditioner, Air Source, Coils, Conventional System, Distribution System, energy, Energy Bills, Energy Savings, Extreme Temperature, Frost Line, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Green Energy, Ground Loop, Ground Source Heat, Ground Source Heat Pumps, Heat Pump, Heat Sink, Heating Technology, Home Energy, home improvement, Home Weather, Mass Of Earth, Radiant Heat, Solar Power, Thermal Mass

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Posted in Renewable Energy

Tags: Air Conditioner Air Source Coils Conventional System Distribution System energy Energy Bills Energy Savings Extreme Temperature Frost Line Geothermal Heat Pumps Green Energy Ground Loop Ground Source Heat Ground Source Heat Pumps Heat Pump Heat Sink Heating Technology Home Energy home improvement Home Weather Mass Of Earth Radiant Heat Solar Power Thermal Mass

Solar Energy Advantages: Solar Technology Offers Many Advantages For Versatile Usage

February 7th, 2010

Sun power technological know-how includes the potential to alter the means by which houses and companies yield electricity. Solar energy is a renewable power source that is originated, of course, through the sun’s rays and a growing alternative means of reducing energy costs.

Renewable power may be accessed indirectly as wind, biomass and hydroelectric power and directly as solar energy (thermal and photovoltaic). So how does this particular kind of technology function, and how can an individual reap some of its benefits?

Making Distinctions

A few categories of sun power engineering include active, passive, direct and indirect.

Active solar designs use electric and mechanical features such as tracking mechanisms, fans and pumps which will alter sun rays into operational outputs including things like heat, illumination and electrical power.

Passive solar models use non-mechanical methods of controlling, converting and disseminating sun energy into usable results.

Direct solar systems normally reference technologies or effects that include one change of sun energy to become a useful kind of power.

Indirect solar designs generally have their attention on technologies or outcomes that include a variety of conversions of sunlight; again, the end result is useful power.

Its Positive Aspects for Pragmatic Usage

Solar technology has made an impact on numerous common and simple products in our lives. Residential solar products have proved themselves to be quite well-performing.

For instance, a thermal mass is a body which soaks in and holds heat. In the context of solar energy, it is a mass which will accumulate heat in the course of sun-drenched portions of the day and release it while sunlight levels are reduced or simply not available. A suitably sized thermal mass will even out temperature shifts, thus helping to keep homes at a pleasant heat range during the day and nighttime.

A large number of residences, additionally, utilize a solar water heater rather than gas or oil. And, solar powered cars are anticipated to be our next outstanding innovation in solar engineering.

Sun driven products have become so small and commonplace that people are using such power without even recognizing it. For years, a number of brands of hand calculators have been completely driven by a little sun cell as an alternative to a battery.

Many commercial enterprise and government properties are adding solar power systems into their plans. Employing sustainable energy solutions to power up residences and companies will in the near future become the norm.

In fact, it’s believed that within the next two-and-a-half decades, most men and women are likely to be employing renewable power resources to deliver all their energy requirements.

No Footprints and Limitless Access

Among the most important benefits of solar technology is that it produces no emissions.

Another is that the resource is freely available and inexhaustible. The overall level of energy extracted from the sun to the global surface is sufficient to provide beyond ten thousand times the current yearly worldwide power utilization.

Unfortunately, governments across the world are missing this marvelous resource. As a result, it may well fall on the laps of typical individuals to use solar technology – as well as more conventional means of reducing energy usage – and move forward in assisting our environment.

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Technorati Tags: Heat Range, Hydroelectric Power, Kind Of Technology, Mechanical Features, Mechanical Methods, Reducing Energy, Renewable Power, S Rays, Solar Designs, Solar Energy, Solar Models, Solar Products, Solar Systems, Solar Technology, Sun Energy, Sun Power, Sun Rays, Technology Function, Thermal Mass, Usable Results, Versatile Usage

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Posted in Solar Power

Tags: Heat Range Hydroelectric Power Kind Of Technology Mechanical Features Mechanical Methods Reducing Energy Renewable Power S Rays Solar Designs Solar Energy Solar Models Solar Products Solar Systems Solar Technology Sun Energy Sun Power Sun Rays Technology Function Thermal Mass Usable Results Versatile Usage

Storing Energy

November 9th, 2009

We have come to rely completely on energy. We use it in almost everything we do; we live in it, use it for all our modern conveniences and more. Without energy we wouldn’t know what to do. In the past, before energy, there were lanterns for light and matches and wood for heat. That was the only options people had. When power was accessible to everyone by running power lines through cities, towns, residential areas to allow everyone to tap into the new generation, people were skeptical as to how this would affect everyone in the future.

Over the years, appliances became energy friendly, which made for less manual labor and more free time. Wash machines, dryers, dishwashers and the latest in cooking stoves that no longer needed wood. These were all great inventions and although people were skeptical they still took advantage of these appliances. Today we have the worry of saving the energy that we know and love so well. Our energy is fueled by non-renewable resources which will allow the depletion of these resources slowly and over time where we won’t realize it until it is gone. We need to find an alternative to the way we power our energy but we also need to store the energy that we already have.

Solar energy has been tested and experimented with as we learn more and more about how to conserve and store the natural heat from the sunlight. We all know how effective it is and why it is something that we should work very hard at conserving. Storing the solar energy can mean endless usage of water and other necessities by using conservative methods of saving energy.

Thermal mass systems are the process of using natural resources to make material that will store solar energy. This type of storage uses renewable resources from the earth, such as dirt, water and man made resources such as concrete to help store energy if only for a short period of time. Thermal mass can help heat water at night or heat your home long after the sun goes down or on cloudy days when the sun doesn’t peak through the clouds at all. These need to be worked on because there is no extensive long storage capability using solar power just yet.

Then you have the thermo-chemically phase which uses types of devices to store heat. Some examples of this type of storage includes

Paraffin wax inside of a storage tank. When the paraffin wax is cold it is solid but when it is heated it is a liquid that can help hold heat for a very long time without cooling it down. As the paraffin wax cools it becomes hard which can hold the heat in longer.

Eutectic Salts are inexpensive and can store heat in a heating system which will distribute the heat evenly and lasting hotter longer.

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Posted in Alternative Energy

Tags: alternative-energy Cloudy Days Conservative Methods Dishwashers energy Global Warming Great Inventions Heat Water Lanterns Man Made Resources Mass Systems Natural Heat Necessities Renewable Resources Residential Areas Running Power save power Saving Energy solar Solar Energy Store Energy Storing Energy Stoves Thermal Mass Usage Of Water

Passive Solar Power

November 9th, 2009

It is a well known fact that the sun is the strongest from the south. People who want to conserve solar power uses this theory in order to get the most sun into their houses with minimal expense. If you are building a home that you want to be solar power, it is best to put the most windows facing the south side. Although it is not always true, depending on where you live, it is a general rule to go by. Passive technology turns sunlight into heat that can be used for several things, including ventilation and cooling. You can heat homes and businesses with passive solar. Passive solar systems depend on gravity fed and natural resources in order to make passive solar work. If it uses a pump or fan to force the liquid through, than it is an active solar.

Passive solar technology offers direct and indirect gain for heating spaces, water heating systems, use of thermal mass and also phase change materials which helps to regulate the temperature indoors. There is also the solar cooking equipment, the solar chimney which allows for ventilation and earth sheltering. Passive solar can also be found in a solar furnace and solar forge, although these are a little more complicated. Sun rooms are another example of passive solar power as it lets the sun come into the room without allowing it to escape. There is no mechanism or no engine to power just the clear panes of glass attracting the sun and trapping it within.

Solar gain is referring to the increase in temperature in an area, an object or a structure that is a result of solar radiation. The stronger the sun the more solar gain you have. A solar furnace is any huge object that is created in order to channel the heat directly to one place. The heat can be unbearable but it does produce a lot of electricity from it. Temperatures can reach up to 3,000 degrees. When you compare the expenses associated with passive solar you realize that the cost of passive solar is minimal when you compare it to active wear.

Because there is no mechanism to power it makes it more affordable. With active solar you must have a device that can power the heat that you take in and used it. Passive solar is the most popular with those who are experimenting with the conception of solar power and may find that they like it enough to stick to it. When you are ready for an upgrade it is easy to move up to active power. Adding a mechanism that will easily and conveniently pump the water on through the source is an effective way of combining today’s technology with conservation and preservation that we have access to.

Passive solar power is something that we will be seeing a lot of in the future as the need for solar power becomes more in demand. There will come a time when even those who depend on active solar may have to switch to passive solar.

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Technorati Tags: Active Wear, alternative-energy, Biomass, Building A Home, Cooking Equipment, energy, Gravity Fed, Indirect Gain, Minimal Expense, Panes, Passive Solar Power, Passive Solar Systems, Phase Change Materials, save power, solar, Solar Chimney, Solar Cooking, Solar Furnace, Solar Gain, Solar Radiation, Solar Technology, Solar Work, Sun Rooms, Thermal Mass, Water Heating Systems

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Posted in Solar Power

Tags: Active Wear alternative-energy Biomass Building A Home Cooking Equipment energy Gravity Fed Indirect Gain Minimal Expense Panes Passive Solar Power Passive Solar Systems Phase Change Materials save power solar Solar Chimney Solar Cooking Solar Furnace Solar Gain Solar Radiation Solar Technology Solar Work Sun Rooms Thermal Mass Water Heating Systems

Ways To Use Solar Power For Heat

November 8th, 2009

We have become accustomed to turning a dial or pushing a button in order to have heat. These ways are nice but they may be inconvenient as well. Heating homes, schools or businesses with solar energy is not only easy but cost effective as well. There are several ways that we can capture the sun’s heat even in winter times. In order to capture the sun’s heat you need a solar source. This source can be something that will attract the sun rays but trap the heat from it when it enters the source. A good example is a sunroom.

These rooms are attached to a home or a building and are constructed of glass panels from the floor to the ceiling. It is usually facing the morning sun in order to get the full affect of the heat. When the sun shines into the room the glass allows the sunrays heat the furniture and everything in the room. These areas become the source that holds the heat in so that it will not escape back out of the glass. This type of heating is natural and can be very efficient if it is constructed correctly.

Other forms of solar power heat are:

Thermal mass that absorbs and holds in the heat. It traps and holds heat while the sun is shining and disperses the heat when the sun goes down.

Trombe Wall is a natural solar heating and ventilation system that uses air channels to hold the heat between a glass object and a thermal mass that is facing the sun. The sunlight gets trapped and stored inside this wall and is then circulated though vents and the top and the bottom of the wall. The wall radiates the heat.

Transpired collector is also a wall that is used facing the sun. The wall absorbs the sunlight and heats the air when it enters into the ventilation system.

Solar Cooling is a great way to ventilate a building. It absorbs the solar heat and cools it making ice with a solar powered steam engine that is attached to a cooling device.

Solar Chimney is also a solar ventilation system. It is made of a thermal mass that is hollow inside. The chimney will warm the air inside the chimney and causing the heat to rise. The rise allows the air to circulate and vent properly.

There are several ways that we can provide heating and cooling to our homes, businesses, buildings or other structures that need to be heated. The ways listed above are by using all natural material that will pay off in the long run when you have heat using the sun and not an artificial heating source that may be produced by non-renewable resources. We all need heat no matter what. We need to find out what ways we can save the heat from the day to keep our house warm at night. Not only does it work for heating but also cooling as well.

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Technorati Tags: Air Channels, alternative-energy, energy, Facing The Sun, Glass Object, Glass Panels, Global Warming, Heating And Ventilation, Morning Sun, Powered Steam, save power, solar, Solar Chimney, Solar Cooling, Solar Heat, Solar Heating, Solar Power, Solar Source, Solar Ventilation, Steam Engine, Sun Rays, Sunroom, Thermal Mass, Ventilation System, Winter Times

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Posted in Alternative Energy

Tags: Air Channels alternative-energy energy Facing The Sun Glass Object Glass Panels Global Warming Heating And Ventilation Morning Sun Powered Steam save power solar Solar Chimney Solar Cooling Solar Heat Solar Heating Solar Power Solar Source Solar Ventilation Steam Engine Sun Rays Sunroom Thermal Mass Ventilation System Winter Times

Healthier World: And Solar Designs

September 14th, 2009

Solar energy happens to be designed to be used as a comfortable way of getting the right temperatures and light levels through an active solar design. You will find that the passive solar design is where the sunlight is entered into cold conditions and it then is maximized and enters hot weather to be reduced. The use of solar panels and the passive solar energy is where you are able to get natural sunlight to interact or become generated with energy without the use of mechanical systems doing all the work. sponsored by electric car motor

Passive solar design generally focuses on managing heat gains through the sun’s daily and annual cycles to reduce the operational energy and costs of heating and cooling the air in the building. Human thermal comfort is similar, however, it is one part of a thermally efficient building design, but passive solar design is not related to factors of ventilation and other building concepts that is usually taken into consideration.sponsored by electric car motor

When it comes to passive solar design, there are many systematic ways. The first is simply pragmatic thinking. A house can easily achieve 30 percent or better cost reductions in heating expense without making obvious changes to its appearance, comfort or usability. This can be achieved using good sitting and window positioning, small amounts of thermal mass with good but conventional insulation, and occasional extra heat from a central radiator connected to a water heater. You will find that the sunray that touches the walls of your home during the day will help you to generate heat in the evening.

Another passive solar design is known as annualized passive solar. Recent research has developed techniques that capture warm-season solar heat, convey it to storage mass and still have heat available six months later, during the colder seasons. There are possible ways for you to use the technique; however, you will find that if you bury waterproof insulation near the foundation of your home, you will then burry loops of ducts or pipes under the foundation slabs. The insulation will help prevent you from heat leaks when it comes to the weather or water.

You will find that passive solar technology, right now, cannot run your home entirely. You will see that the system will help you to create a better way of living in an environment conscious. When it comes to the green house you will find that it is needed to the alternative energy production. Passive solar design is a great place for you to start thinking about these types of technologies and if they are right for you and your home. This is the time where you will want to do further research on a topic. This is going to take a lot of work and time, but there are benefits that you will find from passive solar design in the home. You will find that the benefits will not pollute the environment and making it a better place for your family, yourself, and the future of society. sponsored by electric car motor

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Posted in Renewable Energy

Tags: alternative-energy Car Motor Cold Conditions Conventional Insulation Electric Car Geothermal Energy Green Energy Heat Gains Hot Weather Mechanical Systems Natural Sunlight Passive Solar Design Passive Solar Energy Radiator Renewable Energy Solar Designs Solar Heat Solar Panels Storage Mass Sunray Thermal Mass Usability Ventilation Water Heater

Converting To An Alternative Energy Home

July 29th, 2009

America is certainly missing the boat with all the technologies available to build a solar energy home or to convert to a alternative energy home. Americans should not be dragging their heels in making this conversion, but moving to make the switch much more quickly than they are.

The technologies are not only more efficient, they are more cost affective and more affordable than only a few years ago. With the rising costs of energy and by extension utility bills, it is a wise choice to upgrade a home to solar power.

Passive solar can provide natural lighting, hot water, heating and cooling for the solar designed home. With solar electricity it is possible to power appliances and hot water for cooking, cleaning, bathing and of course laundry.

With the price of energy going up it is quite a viable option to convert a home to alternative energy, even if doing it a bit at a time.

It is wise too look at the return on investment, but ROI should not be the only consideration as independence is a valuable thing. A price cannot be put upon freedom of any kind. Freedom of dependency upon someone or something for energy is a great feeling to be sure.

Since passive energy uses the home’s design there is no need for any special equipment. Taking advantage of natural lighting, heating and cooling can be built into a home.

Designing the home to take advantage of the winter sun for heating is a sure fire shoo in for reducing heating bills. Use the solar gain to heat the floors, furniture other interior material to be released during the night when the interior space starts to cool off.

Such things as solar wells constructed of stone or bricks for thermal mass can be used to collect heat then distributed through out the house with fans.

It only has to be taken a step further to block the summer sun and it’s solar heating ability. Using eves and trees will dramatically reduce or eliminate the solar gain into the solar well and the home.

Solar cells or panels can be constructed to collect the sun’s energy and make electricity for use in the home through a conversion process that is efficient and free. Solar panels collect the sun’s energy and converts it to electrical energy where it can be saved in batteries for later use or used right at the time of conversion.

An inverter converts the solar power DC current into usable AC, alternating current, for home usage.

These systems can be stand alone or designed to use the local utility power as a backup power supply.

Another very cost effective solar power type is the heating of water for domestic use in showers, laundry and kitchen us.

There are basically two designs available. One is a closed loop system and an open loop system.

In the closed loop system anti-freeze is circulated through a pipe system and heated by the sun. This system is used in areas where freezing is a possibility. The loop runs through a heat exchanger, heating the homes water without the worry of freezing the heating medium.

The open loop system is used in areas where freezing will not occur. The water is simply pumped through the solar panels where heat is picked up like heating a garden hose. The hot water is stored in the hot water tank for household use.

Successfully converting and using the sun’s energy efficiently is the goal of every solar home to provide maximum comfort and minimum cost the home owner. In the process of it all, not only the home owner is benefiting, but so is the environment.

Using these techniques along with using energy efficient windows, upgrading insulation, using low wattage florescent bulbs and energy efficient appliances all contribute to cost savings.

Some of these options may not be available to existing homes without major reconstruction. But others are certainly usable and available for moving toward the energy independence of a solar energy home. The home owner can adapt many of these practices to converting an existing home into an energy efficient alternative energy home.

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Posted in Alternative Energy

Tags: alternative-energy Heating Bills Home America Hot Water Heating Interior Material Interior Space Missing The Boat Natural Lighting Passive Solar Solar Cells Solar Electricity Solar Energy Home Solar Gain Solar Heating Solar Panels Solar Power Summer Sun Thermal Mass Viable Option Winter Sun Wise Choice

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Posts Tagged ‘Thermal Mass’

Geothermal Heating – Renewable Energy That Can Save You 70% And Thousands On Heating

Solar Energy Advantages: Solar Technology Offers Many Advantages For Versatile Usage

Storing Energy

Passive Solar Power

Ways To Use Solar Power For Heat

Healthier World: And Solar Designs

Converting To An Alternative Energy Home

Learn how to generate your own solar power for less than $200!