Solar Heating for Schools
Heating installation and costs are one of the largest expenditures in the United States every year, and American schools are no exception. Solar heating applications have become more efficient than those on the market in the past and can offset seasonal heating bills. Heating classrooms and swimming pools as well as furnishing hot water for cafeteria kitchens and locker room showers with solar energy can save money while helping save the environment. However, "free" solar energy has associated costs.
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Benefits
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Power from the sun is free, and can save schools a considerable amount of money on fuel bills. Using an efficient solar water-heating system requires only periodic maintenance after installation. Solar heating is nonpolluting, eliminating the production of greenhouse gases and chemical runoff associated with power plants while producing no fuel waste such as ashes that need removal.
Modern solar technology is increasingly efficient, making it a viable option even in northern climates.
Disadvantages
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Solar heating systems bear a high price tag initially. They cost significantly more than a traditional heating system, and the systems are not all equally efficient. For example, reliance on solar energy to heat a school building can be costly and not very effective. A solar hot-water heating system is less expensive and produces a lot of heat, but requires complicated and expensive plumbing, installing holes in the roof, and there is the possibility pipes may freeze in cold climates.
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Delivery Systems
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There are two types of solar heating systems, active and passive. Active systems use dedicated solar components to achieve heating goals. Using solar power to heat air or water in panels on the roof is an efficient and effective means of distributing heat throughout the building. Modern photovoltaic cells are becoming increasingly more efficient, making them a viable source of electricity to power heaters.
Passive solar systems employ built-in structural features to provide most or all of a school's heating needs. These features may include both heat-retaining roofing and wall components.
Cost Considerations
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A school's solar heating system, either passive or active, is going to be an expensive investment. The price tag will vary based on several factors: vendor, installer, or type of system. Rebates and similar incentives available for homes and businesses may not apply to school districts, but there ma be other sources of savings. These include favorable lease-purchase agreements, energy-saving performance contracts, and private ownership of the solar system itself.
A back-up power source will also be required if part of the system fails or if prolonged cloudy weather reduces its efficiency.
Incorporating solar heating components during a scheduled remodeling or upgrade to a building can save on construction costs.
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References
- U. S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Program: Benefits
- U. S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Program: The Basics
- Solar Thermal Heating for Schools: Slide 3
- Solar Thermal Heating for Schools: Slide 4
- Solar Thermal Heating for Schools: Slide 7
- Solar Thermal Heating for Schools: Slide 8
- Photo Credit old school 2. image by mdb from Fotolia.com
