Active System
Uses the principle idea of harnessing the power generated from renewable and inexhaustible sources of energy, for example; solar, wind, thermal, biomass and geothermal energy.
Solar power is a widely known and used renewable energy source. An increase in technology allows solar power to be used in a wide variety of applications. There are two types of solar panels that generate heat into electricity; Thermal solar panels and Photovoltaic Panels. Thermal solar panels reduce or eliminate the consumption of gas and diesel, and reduces CO₂ emissions. Photovoltaic panels convert solar radiation into an electric current, which can power any appliance, however it is a more complex technology and is generally more expensive to manufacture than Thermal Solar panels.
Biomass is the energy source created from organic materials generated through a forced or spontaneous biological process.
Geothermal Energy is obtained by harnessing heat from the ground. This type of energy can be used to heat and cool homes, it is a system that eliminates the dependence on external energy and generates minimum waste, it is also hidden from view as it is placed underground making it easier to incorporate in a design and is more aesthetically pleasing.
Wind Turbines generate energy from the wind and are a useful application for areas that do not have immediate conventional power sources e.g., in rural areas with schools and hospitals that need more power. Wind turbines can provide up to 30% of the energy consumed by a household but they are subject to regulations and technical specifications, such as the maximum distance at which the facility is located from the place of consumption and the power required and permitted for each property.
Read more about this topic: Ecodesign
Famous quotes containing the words active and/or system:
“Few, if any, creatures are equally active all night.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Fear, coercion, punishment, are the masculine remedies for moral weakness, but statistics show their failure for centuries. Why not change the system and try the education of the moral and intellectual faculties, cheerful surroundings, inspiring influences? Everything in our present system tends to lower the physical vitality, the self-respect, the moral tone, and to harden instead of reforming the criminal.”
—Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902)