Reading some of the last comments on passive and walking away from free energy triggered the following thoughts. All solar, wind, all RE is free energy, which is why it never gained quick and heavy interest.. Back in the 70's when I started with solar it was the thermal area and Super insulated houses that got my attention. But even back then when the "people" started to get the solar bug (1973 oil embargo) business interest was always lack luster. Why? Because RE suffers the "golden egg" possession that business loves. Recurring cash flow. Front end one shot sure, but no recurring checks each month. Why, because the actual energy is free.
SDHW in the 80's under the first ITC (1978 Energy act) was a great example of it. The ITC back then was as high as 40% to the first 10K$ for solar (1980). Flat plates and the first evacs (Like the GE evac tubes) were the tech of interest. Free hot water. Free house heating.
This following quote is from an article by Amy Beaudet in 2015. She was at the AltE store from 2007 till she passed in 2021.:
"In the 1980s when President Ronald Reagan let the solar tax credits initiated by President Jimmy Carter lapse, and cut the R&D budget for solar by 90%, the newly burgeoning US solar industry crashed, allowing Europe and Asia to dramatically surpass the US product development and solar installations. Within 2 years, over 90% of solar jobs were gone in the US. The US market only rebounded with the 2006 solar ITC. That gave the rest of the world a 25 year head start over the US."
https://www.altestore.com/blog/2015/08/solar-investment-tax-credit-itc-tick-tock-times-running-out/#.Y6QANHbMJEY
People might remember the big PR stunt Ronald pulled when he ripped off the Jimmy Carter solar panels from the White house, his back end promise to the FFI in the day. I could resurrect and incinerate him when I think of the things he did pro CW (Anti Democracy), but I will refrain.
Back in the early 2000's when NJ was looking to get in on the fledging PV wagon, I went to one of the very early seminars on its PV program. To compress, the primary interest for solar in NJ came from the electric utilities. Their interest was not clean energy or the environment, but to reduce their Summer peak KW fees that they had to pay PJM for what they put out on the grid. And the cost curve was exponential for them! During the Summer (A/C demand) they were paying PJM as much or more than 1$ a KWH!! OUCH!! So they provided the impetuous for the PV credits, using the abundant Summer sun and PV distributed energy to drive down that peak loading, saving them a boatload of money. Go figure/s. But then something awful happened. Demand destruction!! OMG!! Those Genies that got let out of the bottles caught on and did not want to go back in the bottles, no matter how hard all the entrenched interests tried. And oh did they try, and still are trying.
The reason why there is little industry expertise in all these solar areas like passive, thermal, etc. is because there has never been a big cash cow in free energy. I say that with truth and obvious sarcasm. PV caught on for one reason and one reason only. Utility initial benefit, and it could be easily metered and always used without storage. BTU's not so much. Capitalism lives for profit, not for what is best, right or moral or even in humans long term interest as a species. Chime in Greta anytime.
The interest and enthusiasm I see expressed in this thread for passive and thermal is WONDEFRFUL, understated even with that adjective label. But that interest has been there always (The people), exceeding the level Capitalism will allow it to be expressed at, despite its desperate need. All the Government programs that throw money at it, generates interest for Capitalistic opportunities advancing its presence in our energy systems, which of course is why all the entrenched interests resist such offerings.
The question is will Mother Nature's growing warnings over take profits strangle hold on humanity.
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william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 11-26-2022 11:40 AM
From: M Keith Sharp
Subject: Rhythms of Passive Solar Living
With the heating season in full swing, we are becoming familiar with the rhythms of Ambient House on the heating side of things. October ended with a week or more of mostly cloudy weather, but just enough sun to keep the minimum temperature up to 68F. While active solar panels probably would not have warmed enough for the controller to turn on very often, passive solar windows benefit from even diffuse radiation. We added socks to our wardrobe. The sweaters are in reserve for when it gets colder. Early November saw temperatures drop into the single digits at night with daytime highs in the 40's. Still, with good sun, Ambient House warmed up slowly, with daily low and high temperatures beginning at 68-70 and reaching 70-72 the day before Thanksgiving.
I continue to be amazed at the small temperature swings. We do not have an extraordinary amount to thermal mass, but the limited solar gains reduce overheating and the low envelope losses keep the nighttime decline in temperature small.
On Thanksgiving, with the oven on for a good part of the day, we reached 76. The house continues to feel the effects of that extra shot of energy. With nighttime temperatures a little higher (in the teens), minimum indoor temperature was 73 this Sat morning.
There is rewarding feeling of self-reliance in living in a passive solar house. It goes beyond saving energy and avoiding climate change. One notices sun and clouds, winds and temperature, and how the house responds. It is a connection between nature and you, mediated by an object that you built, that boosts the spirit. I have been thinking more about this aspect of passive solar living since Mark Chalom's presentation at the ASES conference. He credited his sunspace with helping him get through COVID isolation. I can believe it. Thanks, Mark.
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M Keith Sharp
Emeritus Professor
Louisville KY
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