Solar Thermal Perspectives
New York, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]
The Ancient Greeks and Romans understood the
value of solar for heating -- the two societies oriented entire cities
to maximize sun exposure during winter months. Today, we orient houses
any way we please, ignoring the value of the sun for heating (and
cooling) applications.
After the mid-1980's, the
industry was putting around 6,000 solar hot water systems online a
year. Since 2006, companies around the country have seen the
installation of 25,000-30,000 systems a year.
The same is true for water
heating. From the late 1800's to the mid-1920's, solar hot water
systems were extremely popular in western U.S. states, with some towns
in California heating a third of residential hot water with such
systems. In the 1940's, half of Florida's population heated their water
with the sun.
Why all this recognition of the importance and
simplicity of solar thermal throughout history? Because in each of
these cases, they were driven to use the sun for heat because of the
scarcity of fuels like wood and natural gas. But also in each of these
cases, solar thermal heating was replaced because of the availability
of cheaper fuels.
In the late 1970's and early 1980's, the
nation was again swept by a solar thermal boom. But a lack of quality
standards for systems combined with the drop in fossil energy prices
caused yet another drop in interest.
Today, as concerns over the
environmental impact and availability of oil and natural gas rise, the
industry is again starting to see rapid market growth. After the
mid-1980's, the industry was putting around 6,000 solar hot water
systems online a year. Since 2006, companies around the country have
seen the installation of 25,000-30,000 systems a year.
Industry
professionals are trying to ensure this new growth continues in a
sustainable way by focusing on increasing quality standards, training a
qualified workforce and educating the public about the benefits of
various solar thermal technologies. 