Solar Cooling - Air Conditioning From the Sun

At first glance, solar cooling looks like anSolar panels can also be used to operate
oxymoron. However, the same energy that cantraditional air conditioners. As it happens, the
provide heat in the wintertime can also provideperiods of intense heat correspond to the periods
cooling during the summer.of peak electricity production from photovoltaic
Several passive cooling systems have beencells. As long as you have solar panels which
developed and tested. At their simplest, they relygenerate sufficient to electricity, you can operate
on a coolant that absorbs and dissipates heatair conditioners at no cost.
from the house. This could be a pool of water onSolar cooling that does not take advantage of
the rooftop which absorbs seat from the inside ofhigh technology is another possibility. The Romans
the house as it evaporates on exposure to theused a system of running water to cool down
sun.exterior walls of their houses. The heat of the
More sophisticated passive solar cooling systemssun causes the water to evaporate and dissipate
have a solar collector which is shaded during thethe heat within the house. This kind of system
daytime. A storage medium collects heat duringcan be used on walls or on rooftops.
the day and dissipates it at night by exposing theHeating and cooling are two of the biggest
solar collector to the cool night air.expenses for most households. Using solar energy
Since the solar collector must be shaded, ato reduce this expense makes sense financially as
retractable awning or overhang extension can bewell as ecologically. The less dependent we are on
installed. Since the system can be reversed in thefossil fuels for heating and cooling the cleaner the
winter months, it is important that the solarenvironment will be.
collector can be exposed to sunshine if needed.