The phrase “solar energy” carries a heavy connotation of electricity generation, and it is indeed shorthand for the power generated by photovoltaics panels. But you can harness energy from sunlight in a number of different ways: the second most well-known is solar thermal, or solar hot water heating. This can either directly heat hot water for domestic use, or be part of indirect radiant heat systems. It can also power an air conditioner.
Solar air conditioning is gaining some traction on the market, though it has largely been for residential use. Yet commercial buildings, with their extraordinarily high demands for heating and cooling, are even better candidates for this technology. Putting solar air conditioners to the test is a Los Angeles-based utility company, Southern California Gas. SoCal Gas is installing two different models on the roof of their Energy Resource Center and will evaluate their performance for two years. Each large enough to power about three normal homes, the units are still modular and fit neatly onto the office building rooftop.
Chances are you’ve heard the buzz about Toyota introducing solar powered cooling in the 2010 Prius. Not an air conditioner but a solar-powered ventilation system, the new Prius will help cool itself off with fans powered by solar collectors on the roof–and yeah, because it wasn’t awesome enough already, it doubles as a moon-roof. Solar panels + Prius + brilliant marketing = Toyota win.
Image Credit: Solar Electricial Vehicles
As part of its marketing campaign for the new feature, Toyota has three gigantic faux daisies with seats at the base that are being moved from city to city. There are solar collectors in the petals and leaves of the flowers that provide power for WiFi access. Additionally, Toyota has a few bus shelters with solar-powered fans–such as that in the new Prius–following their more attention-getting cousins around the country. The first stop was Boston, where I had the pleasure of pushing a button in a bus stop and receiving a cool 10-second breeze for my efforts. But it was so chilly and rainy for most of the Boston segment of the tour that the installations received much less attention than they may have otherwise. They’re in New York now. Check out their Facebook event page.
Less flashy but certainly the most accessible way to cool off with solar, though, is a solar attic fan. (Adam explains why they’re such a great value in this post.) Keeping your attic cool is an essential part of helping your home be energy efficient in the summer. If you have a poorly insulated or ventilated attic, sticking a solar fan up there may be just the thing to keep your energy bills down as we move into the dog days of summer.
