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Prof M Keith Sharp ScD PE

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Posted By M Keith Sharp 03-21-2024 11:58 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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Luther, Thanks so much for all you do! Keep up the good work. Keith ------------------------------ M Keith Sharp Emeritus Professor Louisville KY ------------------------------
Posted By M Keith Sharp 03-20-2024 02:18 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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ASES is 70 years old this year! Thanks to Carly for the email announcement. 1954 was the year that Bell Labs patented a PV cell, but it was also the year that Farrington Daniels took his first UNESCO-funded trip around the world to discuss and demonstrate solar thermal devices, which were better known ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 01-08-2024 02:10 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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Elias, You probably know about PVWatts, also. I wouldn't be surprised if the tools you listed incorporate PVWatts for their calculations. The thing I like about PVWatts is that it is so simple - just pick a location and enter a few inputs. Best, Keith ------------------------------ M Keith ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 01-08-2024 02:02 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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Thanks for the article. Pessimistic, but that is reality. We have a lot of work to do. ------------------------------ M Keith Sharp Emeritus Professor Louisville KY ------------------------------
Posted By M Keith Sharp 12-22-2023 09:43 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-112hhrg80856/html/CHRG-112hhrg80856.htm#:~:text=According%20to%20this%20Oak%20Ridge,power%20collapse%20from%20electromagnetic%20pulses. "According to this Oak Ridge Study, the collapse of our power system could impact 130 million Americans, require 4 to 10 years ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 12-21-2023 09:52 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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Fitch, I will take your word for it that there is a 1% chance of an EMP event. Just want to point out that in many parts of the country, there are already higher percentage power disruptions (from tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, accidents, even just freezing weather in TX). Resilience to power outages ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 11-22-2023 09:44 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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Tim, Thanks for the meeting links. Europe seems to be ahead of us in solar heating of buildings. Happy Thanksgiving to all! ------------------------------ M Keith Sharp Emeritus Professor Louisville KY ------------------------------
Posted By M Keith Sharp 11-20-2023 10:32 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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Tim, Please read my article. The Warren/Saunders house in Boxborough, MA (a cold and cloudy climate) was built in 1986, and has remained comfortable all these years without a furnace or air conditioner. You are right, the house has lots of thermal mass. Modern systems need less. The Riggins house ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 11-20-2023 10:14 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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The Riggins house in my Solar Today article cost 8% more than a code-built house. This includes 99% passive solar heating, 100% passive cooling and 99% solar hot water. It also includes a heat pump backup, which hasn't been needed (used for 5 hours total in the first five years), because they also have ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 11-20-2023 02:33 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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Passive solar heating systems typically use the south-facing wall, not the roof. Walls are almost always vertical. See the sketch below. Back in the day, a number of communities included solar access (for the south wall for passive solar heating, not the roof for PV) in the building codes for new development. ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 11-20-2023 01:20 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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On a vertical surface, you get more solar radiation in the winter than in the summer. This is quite convenient for passive solar heating systems, which contrary to popular belief, can be designed to not need a backup. Amen to the discussion on planned obsolescence! ------------------------------ ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 11-05-2023 02:39 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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David, Sorry to quibble, but while south-facing is a good rule-of-thumb, it is not true that exactly south-facing produces the greatest power in all locations. For example in San Diego, which often has morning fog that takes a while to burn off, the default system in PVWatts predicts 6413 kWh/yr for ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 11-03-2023 02:34 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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Kat, Feel free to quote me. Just to be clear, I largely agree with David that south-facing is best, but with low envelope losses (like Passive House), you can get enough power for net zero from PV that is not optimally oriented. A good example is the NREL Habitat House (https://www.nrel.gov/docs ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 11-02-2023 12:39 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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Kat, There seem to be two modular home philosophies, one to produce a home as cheaply as possible and the other to make a home that is better than stick-built. The latter is possible because machines can be more accurate and consistent than people. Manufacturing can also be faster and more economical. ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 10-31-2023 12:53 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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The less-than-thrilling aesthetics of large wind and solar projects is just one of many reasons to turn to ambient energy for buildings. Modern homes that are entirely (or nearly so) heated and cooled by ambient energy look essentially the same as any other house. You have to look closely to see the ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 08-23-2023 11:22 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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Not as dramatic as smoke and flames, but here is a nice passive solar lesson plan: https://environmentalsociety.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Adapted-Passive-Solar-House.pdf ------------------------------ M Keith Sharp Emeritus Professor Louisville KY ------------------------------
Posted By M Keith Sharp 08-21-2023 12:58 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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Mark, I like it! We built a heliodon to do the same thing. Not very portable, but you can do demonstrations indoors and at night. Yours is simpler and cheaper. Everyone should learn this stuff! ------------------------------ M Keith Sharp Emeritus Professor Louisville KY ------------------- ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 08-20-2023 12:49 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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"Going solar" means something different to some of us. Educational barriers to incorporating passive solar heating and passive cooling exist across the spectrum, from elementary school, through grad school to continuing education for professionals. Passive solar heating can be demonstrated with a cardboard ...
Posted By M Keith Sharp 07-31-2023 10:17 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum
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Debbie also wrote a book, "The Sun-Inspired House: House Designs Warmed and Brightened by the Sun," that is worth reading. Not only does it have more detail on designing for passive solar heating and passive cooling, it also has good advice on working with architects and builders. ------------------------------ ...