Energy conservation reduces the needed size of any renewable or conventional energy system and greatly enhances the economics so it must be performed first baker 2003.
Comparison between passive and active solar energy.
Once energy from the sun is absorbed it is.
It cannot be retrofitted to an existing building.
Passive energy systems use the sun s energy for heating and cooling purposes.
Active thermal solar isn t limited to small rooftop systems.
Relies on pumps motors and electronic devices to be harnessed.
They can be huge large scale monstrosities that create electricity as well.
Active solar energy systems use the same principles as passive systems except that they use a fluid such as water to absorb the heat.
They use passive collectors to convert rays into the sunlight.
Passive solar is less efficient than active solar technology.
In comparison to active solar systems passive systems need much less costs for maintenance and operating certainly under the conditions of their constant optimization for better performance.
In contrast to active solar systems passive systems operate without the reliance on external devices.
Passive solar panels depend heavily on the design construction and building of your home.
Active heating captures sunlight either as heat or electricity to augment heating systems while passive heating captures heat from the sun as it comes into your home through windows roofs and walls to heat objects in your home.
A solar collector positioned on the roofs of buildings heats the fluid and then pumps it through a system of pipes to heat the whole building.
Requires little or almost no maintenance.
While more involved active solar systems can generate much more heat than a passive system.
Active thermal solar uses pumps antifreeze and a heat exchanger and is generally a lot more complicated.
Liquid conductors are more common than those that are air based as liquid is generally more efficient at conducting heat though air based solar systems have the benefit of not freezing.
Needs no external power source to operate.
Does not require mechanical or electronic equipment to be harnessed.
Active solar systems use external sources of energy to power blowers pumps and other types of equipment to collect store and convert solar energy.
Passive thermal solar just uses water and sunlight.
It is unlikely to eliminate your heating bills but still helps to reduce them.
Needs conventional power source to work.