Green building elements is launching a green building 101 series which will be posted bi weekly on the 1st and 15th of every month.
Solar energy and green building.
According to a world green building council report savings in a sustainable building can be very significant.
With green building s focus on sustainability and green energy it is no surprise that solar power systems play a big role in their construction.
Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun s energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces by exposure to the sun.
In designing a green house solar energy comes both first and last.
The sun is an unlimited resource that can be used to generate power throughout the world.
Furthermore costs of solar pv fell by 44 between 2010 and 2012 according to the seia the us is the fourth largest market for solar pv installations behind germany japan and spain.
These basic responses to solar heat lead to design.
The importance of solar power in green buildings.
Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the sun that is harnessed using a range of ever evolving technologies such as solar heating photovoltaics solar thermal energy solar architecture molten salt power plants and artificial photosynthesis.
From 2000 2010 solar photovoltaics or solar pv grew 42 on average annually.
When sunlight strikes a building the building materials can reflect transmit or absorb the solar radiation.
More and more homes and businesses are utilizing solar power for their energy needs.
It is an essential source of renewable energy and its technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending.
In addition the heat produced by the sun causes air movement that can be predictable in designed spaces.
From 25 to 35 energy savings and up to 39 water savings compared to a conventional building.
The goal is to create a house that consumes at least 50 less energy than one built conventionally with a corresponding reduction in heating and cooling costs.
Besides green building boosts the real estate market and allows to reduce operating costs.