Capturing the Sun's Warmth
Engineers design passive solar heating systems to capture the sun's warmth as thermal energy to heat a buildingCopyright Cachogaray. Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_thermal_energy#/media/File:Calefon_solar_termosifonico_compacto.jpg
In the exploration of ways to use solar energy, students investigate the thermal energy storage capacities of different test materials to determine which to use in passive solar building design.
Passive solar heating systems are simple and efficient ways to heat structures. When designing houses, engineers carefully choose insulation so it does not act as a passive heating system during high temperature days and during the spring and summer months. Engineers must design the insulation to reflect the internally-produced heat (to prevent it from escaping from the house) on cool days, as well as choose roof material that reflects the sun's heat on hot days.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Explain how passive solar heating works.
- Describe materials that are appropriate for use in passive solar heating.
- Explain how engineers design passive solar heating systems for buildings.