CSP: PV Not the Only Game in Town
With the price of photovoltaic (PV) panels plummeting and the advent of the era of PV “solar farms,” large scale solar thermal projects...
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Oct 21, 2014
Solar Water Heating: In the Shadow of PV
It would be hard not to notice the rush of activity in the worldwide photovoltaic marketplace in recent years, but you may not have...
Oct 19, 2011
Liquid Solar Space Heating
Liquid solar thermal heating systems are best for central heating in the home. The solar collectors use either water or a non-toxic...
Oct 10, 2011
Concentrating Solar Power
Concentrating solar power (CSP, or also known as concentrated solar power) uses mirrors or lenses to reflect sunlight onto a surface that...
Aug 16, 2011
Solar PPAs
A solar power purchase agreement – PPA – is a way to use solar energy in your home without the initial high costs of the purchase and...
Aug 16, 2011
Leasing Solar Panels
A solar panel lease works similarly to other leases: the homeowner rents a PV system from the system owner for a monthly fee. If the...
Aug 16, 2011
Energy Efficient Mortgages
An Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) is a loan financing option that takes a home’s energy efficiency into account. EEMs are available both...
Aug 15, 2011
Thermosiphon Water Heater
A thermosiphon system – also called a thermosyphon solar water heater – has a tank connected to a flat plate-collector. Thermosyphon...
Aug 14, 2011
Solar Water Heater Efficiency
Efficiency ratings for solar thermal collectors refer to either the thermal energy output or the “amount of energy offset” by a system...
Aug 13, 2011
Is Solar Water Heating Worth It?
For a homeowner, solar water heating often produces better returns than photovoltaics. Depending on a circumstances specific to you,...
Aug 12, 2011
How Much Does a Solar Hot Water System Cost?
The cost of solar water heaters, like solar PV systems, is reasonably high up-front, but is likely to be less than conventional water...
Aug 8, 2011
What Size Should My Solar Water Heater Be?
You should decide on the size of your hot water heating system with the advice of a solar professional. Here are the two primary...
Aug 8, 2011
Solar Hot Water Storage Tanks
Solar water heating systems need a storage tank to keep water heated by the collector. Storage tanks are also used for liquid-based solar...
Aug 7, 2011
Solar Air Collectors
Solar hot air collectors are mounted on south-facing vertical walls or roofs. Solar radiation reaching the collector heats the absorber...
Aug 7, 2011
Evacuated Tube Collectors
An evacuated tube solar collector is composed of hollow glass tubes. All the air is removed from the tubes to create a vacuum that acts...
Aug 7, 2011
Flat Plate Solar Collector
A flat plate solar collector is an insulated box covered by glass or plastic with a metal absorber plate on the bottom. The...
Aug 7, 2011
Types of Solar Thermal Collectors
Thermal solar collectors turn the sun’s radiation into heat and then transfer that heat to air or water. This process is facilitated by a...
Aug 7, 2011
Solar Thermal Energy
In contrast to photovoltaic (PV) energy, solar thermal systems turn the sun’s radiation into heat and then transfer that heat to air or...
Aug 7, 2011
Evacuated Tube Collectors
An evacuated tube solar collector is composed of hollow glass tubes. The air between the tubes is pumped out, while the outside of the...
Jul 25, 2011
Flat Plate Solar Collectors
Flat Plate Solar Collector Design Photo Credit: Physics World A glazed flat plate solar collector is an insulated box covered by glass or...
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