Alex Sayre
3:28
4.17.09
Across Europe plans to integrate solar panels into building plans becomes even closer to reality. Active Solar Building is the name of the project in an attempt to cover 100% of European heating and cooling for areas in which this affects. This is a building standard set for 2030 which also is to refurbish older buildings that do not have the technology. Paying for this seems to be the problem, but with the necessity for change hopefully this will be able to follow through. This should also assist in reaching the European goal of 20% renewable energy use by 2020. The large amount of energy spent in Europe is based in heating and cooling which is greater than transportation and electricty accounting for 49% of energy use. This program would greatly reduce the high amounts of power pushed into this specific area. This program relies in its cost efficiency with through reasearch and development should be pushed. The availibity of projects is huge.
This is cool. Also i recently found a solar hydroelectric (SHE) power plant which is really cool. This SHE plant uses a lake where large solar panels are used to pump water into a large resovior which is built higher up. This creates a man made hydrological cycle where when solar panels are ineffective because of clouds and at night the water previously pumped to the top can thus be used as a power source. This solves the problem of solar panels being able to store energy basically. This amazing technology could be used everywhere to power towns, cities and countries.
Sun for the Win.
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/04/action-plan-for-50-how-solar-thermal-can-supply-europes-energy
3 comments:
Exciting! While it sounded like you said solar panels would reduce electricity needs I think it would do the opposite, reducing heating needs. You said,"The large amount of energy spent in Europe is based in heating and cooling which is greater than transportation and electricty accounting for 49% of energy use." Did you know that most solar panels are used for heating water though? A few solar panels like PVC's (I believe) are used for capturing electricity to run through a grid. Most are used to heat the water and save on heating bills. Neat findings though!
Great news! Hopefully we can see a new solar energy revolution here in the states as well.
Yeah your right Amanda i typed that wrong. What you said is what i meant to say but i made it sound like solar energy isnt going into heating and cooling. Heat sinks and the like are being used in Europe. Thanks for the correction! :x
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