Thermal (Heating) and Lighting
Solar Energy Resources
for Home Consumers:
An Annotated Bibliography of Government Sources
This page offers information on thermal (heating) solar energy and lighting.
Energy Savers: Exploring Ways to Use Solar Energy
U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
http://www.energysavers.gov/renewable_energy/solar/index.cfm/mytopic=50011
This website provides a cursory overview of the different methods of utilizing solar power including heating one's home and/or hot water, generating electricity and drying clothes on a clothesline. Not sure what the difference is between passive solar versus active? This is a good place to begin. It features instructive illustrations showing how solar water heaters and swimming pool heaters work. It also discusses using daylighting (windows and skylights) to light one's home and outdoor solar cells for outdoor night lighting.
Last updated: April 2009
available online (HTML), a handy printable version is available via a hyperlink
free/no cost
The First Passive Solar Home Awards
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy
Start planning your new solar home. This 226 page book offers simplified blueprints and descriptions of award-winning solar home designs. Despite its age, it still offers some good ideas organized by city and state that can help provide inspiration for redesigning one's own solar home. It includes suggestions for direct and indirect solar residences and even includes a design for a solar doghouse in the epilogue.
February 1979
available in book (print) format
SuDoc Number: HH 1.2:P 26/4
HUD-PDR-376
Introduction to Solar Greenhouses: Using the Sun for Home Heating
Tennessee Valley Authority Office of Power, Division of Energy Conservation and Rates
This 23 page booklet gives information on how to attach a greenhouse to one's home in order to decrease energy cost, to increase living space, and to provide spaces for growing plants year-round. Despite its publication date, the concepts and tips are still very relevant. The document describes airflow (convection) and the need to keep sunlight out in the summer and to allow it in during the winter months. It provides questions homeowners should ask before engaging in such a project, e.g. which of several types of greenhouses would be most beneficial? Besides offering an introduction to greenhouse construction, it also lists building materials and provides general tips for a successful greenhouse project.
May 10, 1983
available on microfiche or as a print booklet
SuDocs Number: Y 3.T 25: 2 So 4/3
Learning about Renewable Energy: Solar Energy Basics
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), U.S. Department of Energy
http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_solar.html
This website describes the difference between concentrating solar power, passive solar, solar water heating, and solar process heating. The photovoltaic information includes an embedded Adobe Flash video (6:36 minute) that describes what the NREL Center for Photovoltaics does, how newer thin film PV technologies will be more efficient, and how they test PV products for efficiency and durability. The heating technologies section explains space heating, water heating, and space cooling with solar technologies.
Last updated 2010
available online (video requires Adobe Flash plug-in)
free/no cost
The Passive Solar Construction Handbook
U.S. Department of Energy
Geared primarily towards home builders, but also useful for homeowners looking to add passive solar technology to an existing structure, this binder provides standardized solar construction designs. It offers sections on the fundamentals of passive solar design and construction with case studies by geographic area. It features construction details with images of the inside of walls that anyone familiar with simple blueprints will be able to understand. It also provides a bibliography, glossary, and appendices with technical data, e.g. the absorption of sunlight by various colored paints. The fundamentals of solar design and the appendix alone provide very useful information that will still be relevant for years to come.
February 1981
available as a three ring loose-leaf binder (print), approximately 300 pages
SuDocs Number: E 1.8:So 4/2
SSEC/SP-41187
Solar Energy Technologies Program: Solar Heating for Consumers
U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sh_consumers.html
This website is a good introductory resource for basic solar heating concepts and resources. Similar in design to the Photovoltaics for Consumers site, except this resource focuses on solar heating. Whether one wants to heat one's home, water, or swimming pool, this site is a good place to start. Includes the 20 page PDF document, Heat Your Water With the Sun.
October 2007
available online (HTML)
free/no cost
Technical Development of Simplified Passive Solar Retrofit Performance Estimates
Tennessee Valley Authority. Solar Applications Branch. Technical Support Section
Many homeowners will not or cannot simply purchase a new solar powered house, but they can retrofit an existing home. What's the most cost effective change one can make? Despite its age, this 91 page document can help estimate the energy savings of five passive solar additions to one's existing residence including: more south facing windows, a Trombe wall (a brick wall behind behind glass), sun space with heat absorbing water container, air heater, or more insulation on windows. This document provides simple schematics and diagrams that almost anyone with some carpentry skills could duplicate. It also provides climactic data to help determine what is the best first step in going solar and getting the most from one's investment.
June 1982
available on microfiche or as a print booklet
SuDocs Number: Y 3.T 25: 2 So 4/2
last updated: 03-May-2010