Chapter 12 Renewal Energy

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• Chapter 12 Renewal Energy Conservation
  Strategies
• Solar Energy Southface Energy Institute El
  Paso Solar Energy Association
• Types of Solar Energy uses
• Active Pumps fans used to distribute heat
  from collector or collection area to other areas
  of building or dwelling.
• Passive - Passive Solar Design
• 3) Combinations of Active Passive
• Solar Water Heating

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Flat Plate Collector. Pump system is needed as
collector is usually on roof.

• Active solar water heating system. Sun pre-heats
  water before it enters hot water heater less
  gas or electricity needed. Collector should be
  oriented due-south, if possible.

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• Basics of roof-top Batch-type or Bread Box
  Solar Water Heaters. (Check for Covenants)

Insulated box with double-paned glass. Electric
Water heater, stripped of appliance cover
insulation. No moving parts w/in collector.
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Trough-type collector more suitable for use
on larger buildings.
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Photovoltaic production of DC electricity.
Coverage of large surface area collects light on
cloudy or rainy days.
Battery system stores electricity for night-time
use. Small systems on emergency phones, remote
billboards, Inverter needed for AC current.
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• Passive Solar Design uses 1) Properly oriented
  glass to capture sunlight during daylight hours
  2) Thermal Mass to absorb solar energy during
  sunlight hours 3) Properly spaced venting to
  create natural movement of air by convection 4)
  Insulation (double/triple paned glass, thermal
  blankets, etc.) to prevent heat loss to outside,
  during cooling hours.
• Passive solar design may also be used to create
  convective air movement for summer cooling. A
  combination might involve a solar powered
  roof-vent fan.

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Basics of passive, solar home design. Long
axis of home should be East-West, windows facing
south.
Fire-place/ wood stove on interior wall.
Water containers more thermal mass
Masonry acts as thermal mass, storing heat
absorbed during winter, low-angle sunlight, heat
is trapped inside by double-paned glass.
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• Hydrogen
• Fuel Cell
• Fig. 12.7

Feasibility depends on what Energy Source is used
to produce the hydrogen by electro-lysis, should
be non-fossil fuel.
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• Biomass/Biogas Types
• Wood, Crop waste, sawdust wood chips, Dried
  animal dung.
• Wood, crop waste, animal dung used for heating,
  cooking purposes in Developing Countries.
• Downsides Deforestation, loss of organics needed
  for humus generation, excessive smoke
  particulate generation.
• Wood chips Sawdust, formerly entering landfills
  may be utilized as fuel for wood processors or
  other nearby industries.
• Downsides Smoke, particulates.

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• Biomass used to produce Biogas (Methane)
• Anaerobic digestion of agricultural (crop) waste,
  human, animal waste, etc., produces methane that
  can be used on-site for cooking, heating
  purposes. In-ground Chinese biogas digestor with
  supply line (Figure 12.9a, p. 263). After
  methane is exhausted, remaining waste may be
  composted and used for crop fertilizer.

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Shattuck, Oklahoma Windmill Museum
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Great Plains few surface streams more
wells.
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Modern designs more efficient for production of
electricity.
Downsides Bird bat hazards, limited
localities, aesthetic issues (for some people).
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• Other strategies for alternative energy
  sources Entrepreneurs, e.g., Changing World
  Technologies http//www.changingworldtech.com/inde
  x.asp uses the Thermal Depolymerization
  Process or Thermal Conversion Process (using
  heat/pressure) to break down organic compounds to
  molecular levels, producing oil (similar to No. 4
  crude), methane, recovered minerals, and water.
  This recovers fuel/water/minerals from
  above-ground waste streams.

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• If such Thermal Conversion Plants become wide
  feasible, perhaps small, portable versions could
  be set up adjacent to old (and current) municipal
  landfills, to mine landfills of usable
  resources.
• Other technologies are under development to
  mine (recover) metals, etc. from industrial
  waste streams. This partially addresses the
  Waste Issue and Recycling of useable Resources.

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Partially Earth-Sheltered home early 20th
century.
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Interior of Earth-sheltered home
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Micro-Hydro Power small, hydro-electric
power plants. Used in areas of moderate to high
topographic relief. Old mill ponds, with
surviving dams can be adapted. New, small dams
can be constructed for hydro purposes. Falling
streams with sufficient gradient (feet/mile) can
be used to drive waterwheel-driven generator or
piped through impeller-driven turbine (similar to
Figure 12.11, page 266).
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• Considerations Clean Water Act regulation
  regarding use of streams. Endangered Species Act
  may also affect how you use your stream. You
  may need some sort of local zoning variances
  approval of downstream neighbors.
• Other strategies - Green Power Purchases

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