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Solar Energy Use on the Rise
By Solar energy | September 30, 2008
Solar Energy Use is on the Rise
The Renewable Energy Roundup in Fredericksburg, Texas, was great! As energy prices increase, interests in alternative energy increase. Nothing like $4.00/gal gasoline to make us question our energy usage!
People from all walks of life attended to investigate and educate themselves about renewable energy resources. Representatives of solar, wind, and biofuel industries made themselves available for every question imaginable. Some lectured on their area of expertise; others conducted workshops.
Here’s a photo of a solar water heater my husband likes.
The collector panel (on the right, leaning against the water tank) sits on the south facing roof. The sun heats the glycol inside the collector. The heated glycol circulates via enclosed copper tubing inside the water tank . Heat transfers through the walls of copper tubing into the water in the tank. Voila! Solar heated water.
Here’s a photo of a working solar panel. 
Sitting quietly in the grass, it powers a display inside the display tent. Seeing it working like this highlights one of a solar panels many excellent attributes. There are no moving parts, which translates quiet, clean, and no mechanical maintenance! Great news for the mechanically challenged.
We learned a bit about wind energy too. But that’s a post for tomorrow.
Topics: Solar Power, Solar Thermal, home solar energy, solar water heater | No Comments »