This book presents techniques for building and optimizing structures with integrated solar energy systems. It describes active solar systems such as photovoltaics and parabolic concentrators as well as passive solar systems and covers optimal materials to use, daylighting, shading, solar blinds, rock and water energy storage and more. It discusses the best ways to site a solar structure considering exposure, elevation, slope, clearance, wind protection, etc. The book includes numerous full-color figures and more than 100 MATLAB® files.

Provides a survey of solar geometry and meteorological data, the optics of various kinds of solar collectors, the mechanics of heat transfer, and private elements of system deign, optimization, and economic analysis. Also discussed are testing, methods and materials, and tracking and nontracking collectors.

Active Solar Systems is volume 6 in a series that surveys advances in solar energy research since the oil shock of the early 1970s. Books in the series document in particular the period 1973 to 1985, which spawned a rich array of federally financed technological programs and developments facilitating the practical use of solar energy. The twenty-two contributions in Active Solar Systems introduce design, analysis, and control methods for active systems and cover advances in the interconnected technologies for water heating, space heating, and space cooling. They show that, with effective marketing and with environmental costs factored into individual consumer decisions, there is strong potential for solar water heating and space heating, and that solar cooling has potential but needs further development to become commercially viable. The details of the materials involved in these technologies are covered in volume 5, Solar Collectors, Energy Storage, and Materials.

Solar Energy Applications in Houses: Performance and Economics in Europe provides information on the state of development of solar space and water heating technology and on the influence of climatic and economic factors on the attractiveness of solar systems. The book discusses the aspects of climate relevant to solar system and house designs; the impacts of the different European climates on the thermal design and heating requirements of individual houses; and the passive solar energy use in buildings. The text also describes the components of active solar energy systems; the performance of active solar energy systems; and the economics of solar space and water heating. The supporting activities for solar energy systems and other energy-saving technologies implemented by governments, companies, energy supply utilities, solar societies and the Commission of the European Communities are also considered. The book will be invaluable to potential buyers or owners of systems who need practical information on the technical and economic possibilities of domestic solar energy use in the various countries of the European Communities. The information is also important for those people in government, administration, industry and research institutions who are involved in assessing solar energy applications, in planning for the future energy supply, in developing support measures for the introduction of energy-saving methods and in marketing solar hardware.