Solar Thermal

This class introduces students to heat energy supplied by the sun. Passive lighting and heating loads are studied and calculated along with solar collectors, pumps, and heat exchangers. Students will learn about efficiencies involving hot water for potable use as well as building heat. A solar hot water heating system located at the EIC will be used extensively for calculating BTU, project feasibility, energy savings and life cycle analysis. Installation costs are examined and financial returns on investment for solar water and space heating are calculated.