ENERGY ALTERNATIVES: RENEWABLE
ENERGY AND ENERGY CONSERVATION
TECHNOLOGIES
(a) Passive Thermal Systems :
The simplest method for the collection of solar energy is to
design windows of buildings for systematic collection of
available solar energy in the cold season. Solar collectors
that make no use of ancillary equipment like fans and pumps
are known as passive systems. Passive collection is the
simplest and usually the most cost-effective way of gathering
solar energy (beam and diffuse), and many of these techniques
have been used for centuries. They became neglected by
architects and builders during the period of low-energy costs.
Technically speaking, passive heating techniques are well
understood. They have the advantage of using traditional
materials and building techniques, and can be used in a wide
range of climates. Since people live in the "collector", the
approach is chiefly of interest for heating buildings in
temperate climates and upland and mountainous areas in lower
latitudes.