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16.3. Jenna Popik , Melanie Schuster, & Alyssa Pugely. Concept 16-3. Passive and active solar heating system can heat water and buildings effectively, and the costs of using directly sunlight to produce high-temperature heat and electricity are coming down. . We Waste Huge Amounts of Energy.
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16.3 Jenna Popik, Melanie Schuster, & Alyssa Pugely
Concept 16-3 Passive and active solar heating system can heat water and buildings effectively, and the costs of using directly sunlight to produce high-temperature heat and electricity are coming down.
We Waste Huge Amounts of Energy Four widely used devices that waste energy • Incandescent light bulb • Motor vehicle with internal combustion engine • Nuclear power plant • Coal-fired power plant
Passive and Active Solar Heating Systems • Passive Solar Heating Systems: Absorbs and stores heat from the sun directly within a well-insulated structure. • Active Solar Heating Systems: Captures energy from the sun by pumping a heat-absorbing fluid (such as water or antifreeze solution) through special collectors, usually mounted on a roof or on special racks that face the sun.
White or light-colored roofs reduce overheating Vent allows hot air to escape in summer Summer sun Heavy insulation Winter sun Superwindow Super- window Stone floor and wall for heat storage PASSIVE
White or light-colored roofs reduce overheating Solar collector Heat to house (radiators or forced air duct) Pump Heavy insulation Super- window Hot water tank Heat exchanger
We Can Also Cool Buildings Naturally • Technologies available • Open windows • Use fans • Superinsulation • Overhangs • Light colored roof • Geothermal pumps
We Can Concentrate Sunlight to Produce High-Temperature Heat and Electricity Solar thermal systems use different methods to collect and concentrate solar energy in order to boil water and produce steam for generating electricity. These systems are used mostly in deserted areas with ample sunlight.
We Can Use Sunlight to Produce Electricity • We can convert solar energy into electrical energy using photovoltaic cells, commonly called solar cells. • Solar cells gather sunlight and release electrons into wires
Using Sunlight to Produce Electricity • There are some key problems with using solar energy: • Costly • Needs to be located in a desert area • Fossil fuels are used in production • Contain toxic materials • Will the cost drop with • Mass production • New designs • Government subsidies and tax breaks