Purpose of flasolar.com
The design and installation of residential solar systems is not a complicated subject, yet there seems to be a real lack of solid information on the specific subject of residential applications. The purpose of this site is to educate anyone who may be interested in the current state of the art as it applies to the average residence. This site focuses on proven, currently available technologies, installation techniques, and the economics of installing solar pool heaters, solar water heaters (Domestic Hot Water), and solar electric (PhotoVoltaics).
The more aware a consumer is in a given area, the easier it becomes to select the appropriate application and contractor. There are in many states special requirements for installing and servicing solar systems. These requirements range from approved installation methods to licensing of any person engaged in the business of installing solar equipment. The do-it -yourself type of person can most certainly benefit from the information contained here.
The Economics of Solar
Primarily a solar system should save money over it's life cycle, and many applications simply don't make sense at this level. The initial cost of a system is weighed against the savings on current or projected utility expenditures. As the life span of a solar pool heater is currently 10-20 years or more, depending on the quality of the product used, then the savings are quite substantial compared to electric or gas bills. The life span of a solar water heater or DHW system is 25-35 years for the collector and 8- 15 years for the average storage tank, therefore a payback period should reflect substantial savings or a positive cash flow during that period. The single most cost effective element of new home construction can be a DHW system that shows a positive cash flow from the first day you move in, no matter how long you plan to occupy that particular residence.
The Ecology of Solar
Solar energy is a renewable energy source that is a constant. Although the amount of solar energy that can be collected varies on a monthly basis, these figures are known and can be used in a reliable manner to predict with accuracy the given effectiveness of a solar system's performance. The use of coal, oil, gas, and nuclear power are now essential to our nation and most of the economies of the developed world. However there are drawbacks and side effects of these energy sources that are going to have long term impact on our planet and its inhabitants. Anyone who has ever seen an oil spill, or a strip mine has to have asked themselves if there is possibly a better way to accomplish our energy goals. The problem of where and how to store the wastes of nuclear reactors will tie up the best minds of science for some time to come. To think that a few homes using solar energy will not have much of an impact on the future is to be defeatist in one's mind set. In Florida alone the combined use of solar for pool heaters and water heating is equivalent to over one trillion kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Not bad for a start.
Solar is a relatively low technology approach to the simple needs of residential applications. We don't need to split atoms to reliably heat water or power a light bulb. There is no need for PHD's in our backyards to heat a swimming pool. The average person can purchase and use the technology without having to rely on complicated support and transmission structures. Solar power generated at your home doesn't need overhead lines running miles from the plant to your home. Solar systems are quite simply mini utility systems that you own and operate with your own best interests in mind.
The History of Solar
The idea of harnessing the sun's energy is not a recent phenomenon. The Indian Pueblos of the American southwest were designed using the concept of thermal mass. This technique use the thick adobe mud and rock walls to gain the sun's energy in the winter, passing this energy to the interior at night. In addition these structures were placed and built to be shaded in the summer and allow heat in the form of sunlight to enter in the winter. Again the thick walls provided year round thermal comfort. The Greeks also built structures to maximize the natural energy of the sun. Xenophon wrote in 400 BC of how to design the openings and placement of a given structure to allow for the natural heating and cooling of the building. The Roman architect Vitruvius wrote about solar architecture in detail in The Ten Books on Architecture (before 30 BC).
The ancient Inca city Machu Picchu, the ruins of which lie 7675 feet (2340 meters) above sea level, was built with east facing walls to gain heat using the morning sun, retaining this energy for later comfort of the inhabitants. Additional site planning allowed for natural seasonal comfort, minimizing the need for combustible fuels difficult to obtain at this altitude.
The Theory of Solar
The basic principles behind the development and practical use of solar energy are for the most part very simple. The sun's energy is radiated through space, filtered by our atmosphere and strikes the surface of the earth in a predictable and quantifiable manner. For most design purposes Btu per square foot or some measurement of energy over a given area is the first starting point. Thermal design applications require a need in terms of heat energy or work to be done and the rest is engineered backwards to arrive at the amount and type of collection equipment necessary to achieve the desired result. Direct thermal transfer such as solar pool or home water heating use the basic principles of radiation, conduction and convection to design a system that will provide the proper results. The laws of Thermodynamics govern these designs and the basic rule that heat moves to cold is the most basic thing to remember. The Glossary section of this site covers these and many other subjects in far greater detail.
In the case of photovoltaics electrons are activated using the sun's energy and the net result is a flow of electrical charge that can be used without conversion in it's direct current form or converted to alternating current for a broader range of uses.
Personal Note
I began my career in solar energy as an installer in late 1977 out of a true fascination for this elegant form of energy production. I was amazed in my first week on the job to observe an old solar water heater built in 1949 by hand, still functioning and now having the fourth storage tank plumbed back up to the original collector. In 1980 I passed the first State of Florida Solar Water Heating Specialty Contractor License test and received my State Certification in 1981. It is with pride and a true passion for this subject that I have attempted to put what I have learned the hard way where others may be able to use it. Hopefully this site provides answers to questions you may have concerning proven solar applications.
