Solar prices have fallen dramatically over the last 10 years. About 65% of the cost of a solar installation is for permits, financing, and customer acquisition costs. It makes solar an attractive option for homeowners.
Solar energy isn’t limited to homes. You can install solar panels on RVs, boats, and transportation fleets. It’s easy to go completely off-grid if you choose.
You need to know two terms if you’re looking for solar solutions—active and passive solar power.
Knowing the differences between active vs. passive solar energy could make or break your solar installation. But don’t worry because we’ve got your back.
Read this guide to learn the differences between active and passive solar energy.
What Is Active Solar Energy?
Active solar energy is when a device collects, stores, converts, and distributes solar power. Photovoltaic panels get used to make these things happen.
The panels sit on a roof or an area aligned with the sun to capture solar energy. Active solar energy systems can supplement your heating system, such as an HVAC system.
Active solar energy systems come in all shapes and sizes. That gives you the flexibility to find the best system for your needs.
Check out gpelectric.com to see examples of mobile active solar energy systems.
A Brief Passive Solar Energy Guide
Passive solar energy directly takes energy from the sun and uses it. There aren’t systems in place to convert it to electric power.
This is used a lot in architecture, where south-facing windows are larger to collect as much sunlight as possible. The heat gets trapped inside and distributed throughout the building.
That can reduce the amount of heat and power required to maintain the temperature in the building.
Special equipment isn’t used, and there’s nothing to install with passive energy systems. The upfront work gets done in a building’s development phase to ensure the best orientation to the sun.
Other examples of passive solar energy are greenhouses and soil. Greenhouses are closed structures that take in the sun’s direct light.
Soil absorbs the sun’s heat and energy. It releases that energy overnight, which regulates the ground temperature.
Comparing Active vs. Passive Solar Energy
Should you get active or passive solar energy for your installation? Active solar energy gives you more control over the energy distribution.
You can use it for more things than just heating and temperature regulation. With passive energy, you’re also counting on the sun consistently being out and available to heat a building.
Active solar energy can get used in dozens of applications, from powering your appliances to letting you live off-grid.
The Different Types of Solar Energy
What’s the difference between active vs. passive solar energy? Active solar energy captures and converts solar power, while passive solar relies on direct sunlight.
Which one is right for you? It depends on your situation, but it’s most likely active solar energy.
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