solar
Sunlight gives us heat and health and supports life. The amount of solar energy that falls on the surface of the earth is about 2,000 times greater than the total world energy demand. Buildings can be designed to harness this heat and even store it for later use.
Passive solar energy can provide up to 70% of a building’s needs. Simple considerations such as orientation add little to the cost but give us the opportunity to glaze large areas of south facing walls and absorb free solar energy. Overheating is avoided by using overhanging balconies, brises soleil, living plant shields and deciduous trees.
1.4 million households in Europe ( only 40,000 in the UK) now use solar water heating. A typical installation providing 60% of hot water needs can cost from as little as £800 for a do-it-yourself system up to £3,000 or more for a commercially installed system.
Photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into electricity. Britain installed 270 PV systems in houses in 2007, compared with 130,000 in Germany. Clearly there will come a time when the cost of PV cells will approach that of conventional technologies and solar power will enable buildings to generate their own electricity, selling their surplus into the National Grid and buying power back at times of deficit.
StudioMGM has expertise in all areas of solar design and can offer clients detailed advice about using solar energy in cost-effective ways.