GEOL 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 18.9: Passive Solar Building Design, Active Solar, Net Energy Gain
Document Summary
Fossil fuels, nuclear energy, and dams have drawbacks, so research has gone into exploring other ways to produce energy. Renewable resources: supply is essentially limitless and using them doesn"t remove something irreplaceable from earth. Geothermal energy: uses earth"s natural heat as an energy source. Power plants convert natural hot water to steam to power electrical generators. Naturally warm water can be piped from the ground to places where it can be used to heat buildings and greenhouses, or to keep streets and sidewalks free of ice and snow. Ideal combination of high temperatures and shallow depths is most common in areas of recent volcanic activity. Commonly wihtin a collapsed caldera formed by erouption of volcanic ash. Large scale generation of electricity form wind requires a site that has strong winds much of the time. Passive solar: light and infrared energy from the sun enter a space through glass windows, naturally heating the inside air.
