Renewable energy

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Renewable energy is a large topic that would take years to completely dissect. The basic idea behind the phrase is the use of energy which is capable of being naturally replenished. It comes in many different forms.
Solar energy is a major example. In fact, enough power comes from the sun to the earth within one hour to provide for the world’s energy needs for more than a year. This happens regardless of whether or not the sunlight is harnessed for electrical power. Photovoltaic panels are the main method used to transform sunlight into electricty.

Wind power is another example of an energy form considered renewable. It is captured through the use of wind turbines.

Of course, not all of these great energy options involve the creation of electricity. One of the ways in which renewable energy is commonly harnessed is through a passive home design. But before understanding this, the basics of being able to understand how heat moves and how it can be stored is imperative.

In a nutshell, heat works by moving from a warmer surface to a cooler one until the difference in temperature no longer exists. This is the main law that is taken into consideration when a passive solar home is designed and laid out.

There are a few different aspects that can then be more thoroughly explored to conceptualize the use of renewable energy in creating a passive home design.

•Radiation – One of the big things that can help in such a process is radiation. There are two main types of radiation that play a big role for this scenario. The first is solar radiation and the second is infrared radiation.

Inside of a home or a business, infrared radiation occurs simply when something that is warm moves heat to something in the home that is cooler.

The best and most common way for solar radiation to be transmitted is through windows. This is why many of the homes created with passive energy design in mind include large windows.

Infrared radiation and solar radiation are actually very closely related. For example, even though radiation can enter a home through the windows as solar radiation, once it reaches an object inside of the home it then becomes infrared radiation instead.

•Conduction – In addition to radiation, the process of conduction is also very important for energy efficient design. Conduction refers to the way that heat moves from one material to the next. The heat essentially travels from molecule to molecule until it is completely able to heat up an item.

This process can go very fast or very slow. This depends on how large the item is that is being heated. What the outside source of heat does is spread to other nearby molecules. This spreading of the heat encourages the molecule to vigorously bounce around. This friction causes even more heat.

It is important to note that passive solar design is best optimized in the creation of a home or building. When it comes to utilizing renewable energy for buildings already in existence, the more active options previously mentioned may be more realistically achieved.

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