Page 64 - November 2015 Green Builder Magazine
P. 64
The Homeowner’s Handbook FIFTH EDITION
Alternative
62 Energy13
Weaning homes off fossil fuels.
www.greenbuildermag.com 11.2015 Renewable energy systems Glossary of Terms
can take a well-designed, Know the Lingo
energy-efficient home to ■■ Inverter: Device that converts direct current (DC) electricity
into alternating current (AC), the type of power most
net-zero energy status. commonly used by U.S. appliances and light fixtures.
P RODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY and hot water at ■■ Grid-Tied: Electricity produced on site (from photovoltaic
home using natural energy from the sun is nothing panels, wind turbines, etc.) is fed directly into local power
new. But technologies have greatly improved over lines, rather than being stored in batteries.
the past few years. Not only do they cost less to
install, but they’re more reliable, more efficient— ■■ Cogeneration: Production of electricity from heat that
and simply a better deal. In addition, the supporting would otherwise be wasted, such as hot flue gases
hardware is vastly superior to the old stuff. The politics of produced by a gas-powered furnace or boiler.
alternative energy is changing too, albeit more slowly than many
would like. In many states, utilities are now required to buy back ■■ Wind Maps: Useful for siting (and evaluating the viability
any “extra” electricity you produce. And both wind turbines and of) wind turbines, wind maps show how much wind can be
solar installations are eligible for 30 percent tax credits with no expected in a geographic region or specific site.
upper limit from the federal government, plus certain state and
utility incentives. If you’re looking at alternative systems, here’s ■■ Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): Electricity
some essential information. generating solar panels that have been designed to resemble
various familiar types of roofing.
WIND TURBINES
Lighter Wind Demands ■■ Standby Heat Loss: Heat lost by hot water that is sitting
Small-scale wind turbines that create electricity have always been passively in a storage tank or pipes. Super-insulated hot
a fairly specialized form of power generation—most valuable in water tanks greatly reduce this loss.
mountainous and coastal regions. The challenge has been to build
a turbine that produces adequate electricity, even in low wind, to both the Swift (www.swiftwindturbine.com) and the Skystream
make it worth the cost. We’re getting much closer. For example, (www.skystreamenergy.com) turbines begin producing power in
winds of just 8 miles per hour.
The advantage of wind power over PV? The wind often blows
when it’s dark outside. But before you buy, take a look at the
continued on page 64
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