Solar Energy Heating and Cooling

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When fuel prices rise, everyone goes on the alert. No one was concerned when oil prices were low, using it freely for their cars and homes even though early '70s automobiles were comparable in size with tanker ships that carry Saudi Arabian crude to North America! Home design and construction were carried out with little consideration for energy efficiency or fuel consumption.

In 1973, OPEC suddenly decided to raise oil prices, shaking Americans out of their complacency over fuel consumption. At the same time, Arab oil producers protested against America's policy on Israel by discontinuing oil shipments.

The 21st Century brought an awareness of the new energy crisis with it, through concerns about the environment, oil supply stability and possible terrorism. Environmental health has continued to decline, with both governments and oil companies ignoring it in their policies or pricing. Governments are frequently more concerned about raising GDP and creating job opportunities than energy efficiency or effects on the environment. Future plans for infrastructure energy use are to switch from non-renewable resources to renewable fuels that are clean and carbon-free, like solar electricity, biodiesel, ethanol and even hydrogen for transportation.

We can also consider photovoltaic panels , wind turbines and biomass as complementary energy sources in producing electricity. These changes have already begun: many residential homes already employ various renewable energy technologies such as economical domestic solar hot water systems.

Renewable Fuels

There is always some negative impact to the environment when any fuel is burned. Non-renewable fossil fuels produce a lot of chemicals as well as greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, releasing them into the environment. Non-renewable fuels such as propane and natural gas produce fewer toxins.

The worst contributor to environmental damage is low-grade coal. Compare the effects of a propane or natural gas cooking stove with an oil- or coal-based equivalent and consider the results of burning these fuels in an unventilated house. Now imagine that on a national or world-wide scale. On the other hand, wood, scrap wood pellets, biodiesel, switchgrass and ethanol are energy sources that can be easily replaced. Nutrients, water and carbon dioxide are absorbed from the ground and atmosphere by growing plants. The process of photosynthesis in plants converts CO2 gas into carbon that is then stored in the stem or seeds. Hence, when wood or bio-fuels are burned, their carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and can be reused by other plants.

Unlike most non-renewable sources, if plants are burned properly they do not produce any more greenhouse gases than they would if they rotted naturally in a forest or field. However, wood stoves - no matter how good they are - will release ash and other pollutants from their smoky fires.

Solar Energy - Something For Everyone

When you design a new home or renovate an existing one, consider the sun as a better source of energy. A home that is designed and positioned well can absorb a lot of free solar energy during sunny periods and thus cut down reliance on other fuels. This applies to both active and