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Energy Saving Articles

Drive slower, save the planet!
Site: Hoot Article Release details: Immediate Date: 23 September 2005 Drive slower, save the planet! The environment is a hot issue that we just can't afford to ignore any longer. To some, being environmentally aware is a way of life, a...

Global Dumbing?
I am beginning to wonder if scientists have been getting it all round. All this time, people have been worried about the Ozone, a giant asteroid, or some breakout of a bio-hazardous agent by a terrorist organization being the doom of mankind. We...

Identify the ways to save energy
People have started to be more and more aware about the fact that they need to save energy in their household for a variety of reasons. The first reason, which is in fact the one that mostly affects them, is related to the financial aspect. Thus, by...

New Outdoor Clothing Technology Keeps You Comfortable
New Outdoor Clothing Technology Keeps You Comfortable During Winter Weather Temperatures are changing and as you select your outdoor clothing winter wear take the time to choose the products that will keep you comfortable. There are many...

What to do With Pesky Packing Peanuts
We do everything we can to do our part in the effort to protect the environment. We recycle. We take extra care to combine errands so we don't waste gasoline (especially at these prices). We even make purchases online to save energy and keep...

 
Solar Cooling - Air-Conditioning From the Sun

At first glance, solar cooling looks like an oxymoron. However, the same energy that can provide heat in the wintertime can also provide cooling during the summer.

Several passive cooling systems have been developed and tested. At their simplest, they rely on a coolant that absorbs and dissipates heat from the house. This could be a pool of water on the rooftop which absorbs seat from the inside of the house as it evaporates on exposure to the sun.

More sophisticated passive solar cooling systems have a solar collector which is shaded during the daytime. A storage medium collects heat during the day and dissipates it at night by exposing the solar collector to the cool night air.

Since the solar collector must be shaded, a retractable awning or overhang extension can be installed. Since the system can be reversed in the winter months, it is important that the solar collector can be exposed to sunshine if needed.

Solar panels can also be used to operate traditional air conditioners. As it


happens, the periods of intense heat correspond to the periods of peak electricity production from photovoltaic cells. As long as you have solar panels which generate sufficient to electricity, you can operate air conditioners at no cost.

Solar cooling that does not take advantage of high technology is another possibility. The Romans used a system of running water to cool down exterior walls of their houses. The heat of the sun causes the water to evaporate and dissipate the heat within the house. This kind of system can be used on walls or on rooftops.

Heating and cooling are two of the biggest expenses for most households. Using solar energy to reduce this expense makes sense financially as well as ecologically. The less dependent we are on fossil fuels for heating and cooling the cleaner the environment will be.

About the author:



Hans is author at http://www.alternative-energy-guide.com/ the energy site for "non techies"/p>