| Q: How can we get electricity from the sun? |
A: When certain semiconducting materials, such as certain kinds of silicon, are exposed to sunlight, they release small amounts of electricity. This process is known as the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect refers to the emission, or ejection, of electrons from the surface of a metal in response to light. It is the basic physical process in which a solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) cell converts sunlight to electricity. Read More...
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Q: How does a solar water-heating system work?
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A: Every solar water-heating system features a solar collector that faces the sun to absorb the sun's heat energy. This collector can either heat water directly or heat a "working fluid" that's then used to heat the water. In active solar water-heating systems, a pumping mechanism moves heated water through the building. In passive solar water-heating systems, the water moves by natural convection. Read More...
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Helpful Links: The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners-www.nabcep.org
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority-www.nyserda.org
National Renewable Energy Laboratory-www.nrel.gov
What you need, when you need it-www.dsire.org
The Solar Rating and Certification corporation-www.solar-rating.org
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