A seasonal thermal store (also known as a seasonal heat store or inter-seasonal thermal store) is a store designed to retain heat deposited during the hot summer months for use during colder winter weather. The heat is typically captured using solar collectors, although other energy sources are sometime used separately or in parallel.
Types of seasonal [...]
A windcatcher is a traditional Persian architectural device used for many centuries to create natural ventilation in buildings. It is not known who first invented the windcatcher, but it still can be seen in many countries today. Windcatchers come in various designs, such as the uni-directional, bi-directional, and multi-directional.
An ab anbar with double domes [...]
A solar chimney — often referred to as a thermal chimney — is a way of improving the natural ventilation of buildings by using convection of air heated by passive solar energy. A simple description of a solar chimney is that of a vertical shaft utilizing solar energy to enhance the natural stack ventilation through [...]
Earth sheltering or Earth cooling tubes can take advantage of the ambient temperature of the Earth to reduce or eliminate conventional air conditioning requirements. In many climates where the majority of humans live, they can greatly reduce the build up of undesirable summer heat, and also help remove heat from the interior of the building. [...]
Solar air conditioning refers to any air conditioning (cooling) system that uses solar power. This can be done through passive solar, photovoltaic conversion (sun to electricity), or solar thermal energy conversion. The U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 created 2008 through 2012 funding for a new solar air conditioning research and development program, [...]
The solar power tower (also known as ‘Central Tower’ power plants or ‘Heliostat’ power plants or power towers) is a type of solar furnace using a tower to receive the focused sunlight. It uses an array of flat, movable mirrors (called heliostats) to focus the sun’s rays upon a collector tower (the target). The high [...]
A solar furnace is a structure used to harness the rays of the sun in order to produce high temperatures. This is achieved by using a curved mirror (or an array of mirrors) acting as a parabolic reflector to concentrate light (Insolation) on to a focal point. The temperature at the focal point may reach [...]
The opposite of district heating is district cooling. Working on broadly similar principles to district heating, district cooling delivers chilled water to buildings like offices and factories needing cooling. In winter, the source for the cooling can often be sea water, so it is a cheaper resource than using electricity to run compressors for cooling.
What [...]
District heating (less commonly called teleheating) is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location for residential and commercial heating requirements such as space heating and water heating. The heat is often obtained from a cogeneration plant burning fossil fuels but increasingly biomass, although heat-only boiler stations, geothermal heating and central solar heating [...]
Cogeneration (also combined heat and power, CHP) is the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat.
Conventional power plants emit the heat created as a byproduct of electricity generation into the environment through cooling towers, as flue gas, or by other means. CHP or a bottoming [...]
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is using less energy to provide the same level of energy service. An example would be insulating a home to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve the same temperature. Another example would be installing fluorescent lights and/or skylights instead of incandescent lights to attain the [...]
To a real estate investor remodeling green may mean the money they are going to make from renovating that ugly house they just bought for a SUCH A DEAL price. To others, it means they want to preserve the earth and not waste energy, building material or resources when they remodel their home. Some homeowners [...]
Climate change is an issue that is beginning to dominate the headlines. Here, we take a look at how we can all be more environmentally friendly at home.
Having an environmentally friendly home can have many aspects, from the design and building stage right through to our lifestyles. Some green ideas and technologies can be expensive [...]
There’s a lot of talk in real estate about green building lately, but the phrase is still a little vague. Here’s a guide to understanding a few key terms, so you can investigate whether or not a potential home is truly eco-friendly.
Insulation and Building: Many new buildings are being insulated [...]
A new type of super-efficient household light bulb is being developed which could spell the end of regular bulbs.
Experts have found a way to make Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) brighter and use less power than energy efficient light bulbs currently on the market.
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LEDs are already used in dozens of household gadgets
The technology, used in gadgets [...]
by Darshan Goswami
Innovative technologies such as hydrogen, renewable energy, and energy efficiency can eliminate our reliance on foreign oil. A Hydrogen “Manhattan Project†for Energy is needed to accelerate the transition to a Hydrogen Economy and ensure that this vision becomes a reality within the next 10 years.
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There is no need to wait 20 to [...]
A green home is one that is eco-friendly and is at harmony with the environment. You can help the environment by making your home greener. Here is how you can do so by adopting a more energy-efficient and earth-friendly lifestyle.
Read the following top 10 ways to green your home. 1. Upgrade to greener appliances. Make [...]
Yes, you can make a difference to the world if you follow a few simple energy efficient home tips that will help you save money and help save our planet’s resources. Purchase energy efficient major appliances with the Energy Star label and save up to 20% on your energy bill. Make sure you have the [...]
If you want to save as much energy as you can, there is one more thing you can do once you have optimized the heating and cooling systems, kitchen appliances and laundry routines. This thing is your electronic appliances. While most of them is thought to use only a trickle of energy, the total amount [...]
Oil prices are going up steadily, no one will argue with this fact. This is not just a news item; it influences our pocket directly. Usage costs for any system that we have like heating systems or vehicle that runs on diesel, have increased significantly in the last several years and it does not show [...]
If you have an interest in being environmentally friendly, then no doubt you’re aware of the damage fossil fuels are doing to our environment. Not only that, but at some point they will run out. Add in the recent jump in gas prices, and it’s hardly surprising that more people are talking about making their [...]
PRESENT METHODS
Most heating and cooling systems operate to bring a fixed temperature transfer medium to the controlled enclosed environment by means of a thermostat. Some systems enhance the delivery of needed transfer medium with source temperature adjustment accomplished by means of an outside sensor reset process. Outside reset devices do not adapt well to [...]
The winters have been warmer in the US in may areas for November and December than in past years but it still can be brutally cold January through April depending on your area. Let’s look at ways to cut down on the heating bills okay?
What areas of your home need additional support from air leaks? [...]
Crude oil is expensive, very expensive, that is a fact. Because of these high prices other products like petrol and electricity are following. The prices are going up and down but the trend is up and the trend will not be going down in near future. With the problems in the world we are facing [...]
There are many different ways to accomplish energy efficiency lighting for interiors and exteriors for a home or a business. Creating energy efficient lighting in a home or business is something almost everyone can do to save both money and energy. Here we consider the two most commonly used methods to effectively establish energy efficiency [...]
Renewable energy resources will be of increasing importance as we transition from finite fossil fuels to more sustainable alternatives. Although pre-dating solar and wind energy, geothermal has largely been overlooked as a technology for reducing carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependence. But rising fossil fuel prices and a growing interest in energy efficiency have increased [...]
We hear so much about energy efficiency nowadays. Energy efficiency is about saving our environment and saving our money. How we got about practicing energy efficiency isnt always as clear, though. Here, there, are the most frequently asked questions about energy efficiency, and their answers.
The question most often asked is if buying products such as [...]
Dennis and I began building energy efficient homes in the 1980’s. We understand construction math and profitability. It costs 5-10% more to build an energy efficient home than “standard†homes.
Many people pay deluxe home prices for fancy looking features but they get only paltry energy saving benefits.
When we first started building energy efficient homes [...]
WYOMING: Scientists say a new bacteria species, discovered in Yellowstones thermal pools, could improve the use of bacteria to produce ethanol.
Researchers found the bacteria in Octopus and Mushroom springs as well as in Green Finger Pool. The bacteria thrive in hot water, growing best between 120 and 150 degrees.
The discovery is rare because [...]
BioOil is an alternative fuel made using Dynamotive’s pyrolysis process of biomass. It is a dark brown, free flowing liquid fuel with a smoky odour reminiscent of the plant from which it was derived. BioOil is formed in a process called pyrolysis wherein plant material (biomass), such as sawdust or bagasse from sugar [...]