1 answer
3
Questions
Asked
502 views
how does hvac work entwined with solar energy
air conditioners.. make a difference .. solar energy is renewable and good for the environment #carrer #job #forgot the tag #independent
Login to comment
1 answer
Updated
Steven’s Answer
Hey! I have worked in the solar industry for some time now, and would be able to provide you with the information you need on this one. Generally, HVAC units are electrically driven, and require 120 V of AC electricity to operate, and are generally one of the most demanding electrical appliances in the home, especially living in Texas. Solar energy is a great source of energy year round in the state, that can definitely help mitigate and/or eliminate the electricity needed from a utility company to power it.
You can use solar panels to power an AC unit. This can not be done very effectively through just wiring an AC unit up to a solar panel, as it would only be able to operate during the daytime. Instead, many businesses and homes fit solar panels on the roof of their building, while staying connected to the utility grid. That way, the solar panels can produce energy for the home, and any excess electricity can be sent back to the Texas grid, and you can generate credits of electricity by sending it to the utility, making them basically your battery system for when you need electricity to power HVAC at night. (Battery systems right now are very expensive and not a economically-scalable option right now)
This process is called net metering, and it is starting to appear in many more states that are turning towards renewable sources of electricity. It is basically an up front capital cost for decades of power generation on your building. Solar is a very cool industry, and it is a shame not as many people are turning to solar yet, as renewables are the impending future of energy generation.
Another way to power the HVAC is to look into actual units that convert sunlight into heat in the unit, which powers the unit during the day time. Again, it will require electricity torun at night, but it could reduce the electricity needs during the day by a ton. There are some companies that produce solar HVAC units, like Lennox. Their website has lots of educational videos on how their technology works.
You can use solar panels to power an AC unit. This can not be done very effectively through just wiring an AC unit up to a solar panel, as it would only be able to operate during the daytime. Instead, many businesses and homes fit solar panels on the roof of their building, while staying connected to the utility grid. That way, the solar panels can produce energy for the home, and any excess electricity can be sent back to the Texas grid, and you can generate credits of electricity by sending it to the utility, making them basically your battery system for when you need electricity to power HVAC at night. (Battery systems right now are very expensive and not a economically-scalable option right now)
This process is called net metering, and it is starting to appear in many more states that are turning towards renewable sources of electricity. It is basically an up front capital cost for decades of power generation on your building. Solar is a very cool industry, and it is a shame not as many people are turning to solar yet, as renewables are the impending future of energy generation.
Another way to power the HVAC is to look into actual units that convert sunlight into heat in the unit, which powers the unit during the day time. Again, it will require electricity torun at night, but it could reduce the electricity needs during the day by a ton. There are some companies that produce solar HVAC units, like Lennox. Their website has lots of educational videos on how their technology works.