Philadelphia Million Solar Roofs 
Community Partnership

Using Solar Energy

 
OVERVIEW

The sun gives us energy in two forms: light and heat. People have been using the sun's energy to make their homes brighter and warmer for centuries. Today, special equipment and specially designed homes can more effectively capture solar energy for light and heat. By using solar energy, we can make our homes more comfortable while also reducing our utility costs and pollution. Most of this website is devoted to the two most popular technologies eligible for designation in the National Million Solar Roofs Initiative: solar thermal water heating and solar photovoltaics. For information on passive solar energy, visit http://www.sbicouncil.org


    Solar thermal collectors capture the sun's heat for space heating and/or hot water heating. Most solar collectors are boxes, frames, or rooms that contain these parts:
     
    • clear covers that let in solar energy
    • dark surfaces inside called absorbers, that soak up heat
    • insulation materials to prevent heat from escaping
    • vents or pipes that carry the heated air or liquid from inside the collector to where it can be used or stored.
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    Solar photovoltaic (PV) modules produce electricity from the sun's light energy. You are probably familiar with the PV cells that power many watches and calculators. While there are several different types of solar cells, they all produce electricity solely by sunlight. The cells are combined into modules using various manufacturing processes. Depending upon the application, the solar modules are typically wired together to form an array. The arrays typically produce direct current (DC) electricity which is the same type of current produced by batteries. Since most household appliances run on alternating current (AC), an inverter is used to change the DC electricity to AC.

For ideas about incorporating solar energy in your home or business, please also see the Design/Installation page for the considerations involved in using solar energy technologies.


Background
Resources/Links for Consumers
Local Case Studies