Solar 101

The energy from the sun comes in two familiar forms - heat and light. The inventive minds of scientists and engineers have developed an extraordinary mix of ways to capture that energy and transform it for residential, commercial and industrial use. Solar researchers around the world seek to find new ways to capture, store and distribute that energy, or to optimize existing technologies. Solar energy is limitless, nonpolluting, and free.

Typical thermal uses for solar energy are: solar cooking, solar heating of potable water (or some other fluid through a heat exchanger) for residential and commercial use, solar heating of swimming pools, solar desalination, solar radiant space heating, and solar evaporative cooling.

In residential developments a four foot by eight foot roof mounted panel will preheat water which then circulates through a standard water heater. On days with intense sunshine water is heated to over 160 degrees and the regular water heater never kicks in. (In fact the water can be so hot that an anti-scald valve is needed to bring the temperature down to a safe level.) On cold days, or days with less intense sunshine, water is still preheated by the sun and the standard water heater therefore runs for a much shorter period of time.

The photons of light striking Photovoltaic (PV) cells (typically silicon - a similar kind of chip such as those found in computers and other electronics) displace electrons and create electricity. These cells are arranged in modules in a variety of sizes and are the ones frequently seen on rooftops. PV cells can also be embedded in special roof shingles that act both a standard roofing material and generators of electricity.

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I habe posted a Solar Workshop on Green pages I edit for SavannahBest.com.
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For an extensive amount of information check out the Florida Solar Energy Center