The NCSU solar house is every college students dream, you never have to pay for electricity. I visited the solar house on May 2, 2011 for the first time in my life. The house itself is 2154 sq. ft. including a sunspace and a balcony. The house has a 35 degree roof facing south that optimizes the annual solar collection. The roof of the house and also the garage has solar panels that collect energy and generate electricity. The panels on the house are able to generate 5.4 kilowatts of electricity while the panels on the garage are able to generate 3 kilowatts. The panels on the garage are used to power the electric cars inside.
The solar house does not only use solar panels, it also has thermal storage walls which collects, stores, and transfers solar hear for natural heating in the house. Also, a thermal water system and geo-thermal heat pump are used to heat and cool water going inside of the house. Natural architectural was also used to make the house energy efficient. The south side of the house is shaded in the summer keeping the house cool, while earth berming on the north and west side of the house reduces heat loss in the winter. One thing I found really cool was the collection of solar toys in the house. One in particular was a solar toy car.
The goal of the solar house is to demonstrate how solar technologies can be incorporated to houses in the Raleigh area, be and educational resource to the school, and also to be a research laboratory for students. I believe the solar house has accomplished these goals and that all students in energy related fields should take a field trip to this house.
No comments:
Post a Comment