What is Solar Energy?
There is much more to solar energy than simply using photovoltaic cells (solar panels) to convert the sun's energy into power. It is also possible to harness the heat from the sun as an efficient way of heating a home.
Not only are visible rays of light emitted from the sun, but there are also infrared, ultraviolet, and small amounts of x-ray radiation. The majority of the spectrum that is received by the earth is visible light.
What is a Solar Heat Collector?
A solar heat collector is a device that is used to harness the light from the sun as a means of generating heat. It collects heat between the UV and infrared section, also using visible light.
How does it work?
It works off the principle of convection. Matte black painted cans absorb sunlight and increase the ambient temperature of the air in the box. The sunlight passes through a piece of corrugated polycarbonate, which allows the rays to pass through, but the air pocket within the corrugated channels provide insulation and help keep the heat in. From the box, the heated air is blown with a small fan through pipes into the house.
Why are they necessary?
Solar heat collectors are a necessity for reducing environmental pollution caused by fossil fuel powered heating. Heating requiring fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas releases harmful gases into the environment. Solar heat collectors not only help reduce these harmful gases by replacing the need for fossil fuels with sunglight, but they are cost efficient and easy to make. The need for solar heat collectors is now greater than ever. The cancellation of the Low Income Energy Efficiency Fund in Michigan (L.I.E.E.F.) has left families wondering how they will have enough money to heat their homes at an affordable rate. The use of solar heat colelctors will not only provide affordable heating, but will also reduce your carbon footprint.
Cancellation of L.I.E.E.F. has not only motivated us to build solar heat collectors for our community, but for other communities across the nation. An example of our outreach was the education of students in Yakatut, Alaska on how to build solar heat collectors.
This live feed is a live montioring of a solar heat collector. It is achieved by using a circuit assembled by one of our community members, Mr. Kissman, and it monitors collectors that are installed on his house. It is a circuit comprised of an XBee radio connected to an Arduino board, then programmed using the code provided underneath the live feed. If the link does not work to open the PDF, the code is provided below.