What Type Of Energy Is A Solar Powered Calculator? 2023

A calculator – Hand-held calculators have been using solar cells for decades, in fact if you look closely they use small photovoltaic panels which take the suns energy and turn it into electricity (essentially how all solar technology works of course!).

When I mention this to people the realisation of such an interesting piece of technology being incorporated onto such a nostalgic device is surprising.
In fact the photovoltaic panel has become part of the calculator’s iconic design and they often look strange without them.
This was highlighted recently in an article online regarding manufacturers putting fake solar cells onto battery powered calculators just because we subconsciously expect a calculator to look that way.

The article also showcases an advert from a 1978 copy of Popular Science which highlights “The 1 million hour calculator” being the first solar powered calculator using “no batteries, ever!”. My favourite part of the advert is this statement “The World’s Most Efficient Calculator Naturally Uses The World’s Most Efficient and Abundant Energy Source; LIGHT.” This makes me wonder why solar cell technology was never applied to other small nostalgic devices of decades past – like timers, stopwatches, personal organisers and even tamagotchis!

Contents

- 0.0.1 What type of energy is a solar calculator?

1 What type of energy is used to power calculators and watches?
2 What is the main energy transfer taking place in a solar powered calculator?
- 2.1 What is the use of solar calculator?
  - 2.1.1 Do solar calculators have a battery?
  - 2.1.2 How can I charge my solar calculator without the sun?
- 2.2 How much energy does a calculator use?
3 Is solar energy chemical energy?
4 What are the 3 types of solar energy?
5 Is solar energy mechanical energy?
- 5.1 Is solar power renewable?
- 5.2 What do you mean by solar energy?
6 What is the process of solar energy?
7 Do Calculators have solar panels?
- - 7.0.1 How do I charge my solar calculator?
- 7.1 What type of energy is a crane?

What type of energy is a solar calculator?

Solar-powered calculators are small, hand-held devices that use energy from solar cells to function. Solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells, use energy from light (artificial or real) and turn it into electricity used to power the calculator.

What type of energy is used to power calculators and watches?

Photovoltaic (PV devices) or ‘solar cells’ – change sunlight directly into electricity. PV systems are often used in remote locations that are not connected to the electric grid. They are also used to power watches, calculators, and lighted road signs.

What is the main energy transfer taking place in a solar powered calculator?

Solar cells (photovoltaic) – Solar cells are devices that convert light energy directly into electrical energy. You may have seen small solar cells in calculators. Larger arrays of solar cells are used to power road signs in remote areas, and even larger arrays are used to power satellites in orbit around the Earth.

What is the use of solar calculator?

Solar energy calculator Use the solar energy calculator for an idea as to the benefits you may see from installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This tool gives estimates based on information you provide, and a number of assumptions to indicate potential benefits.

This is to help you decide whether a PV system is for you. Use of the tool and its outputs is not a guarantee that you will see the exact same fuel bill savings from the installation of your planned system. This tool estimates potential payments from the, which was introduced on 1 January 2020 and requires energy suppliers to pay customers for the electricity they export to the grid.

There are a range of tariffs available for this and in some cases participation requires metering. Deals may also be time limited or have other conditions which you should consider carefully in order to make the best choice for you. The lists current deals available.

Do solar calculators have a battery?

How to Use a Solar Power Calculator Updated January 09, 2018 By Contributor Nearly every basic calculator has a set of solar panels built into it. Even so, these calculators usually come with a battery inside that actually powers the device. These panels help extend the life of the calculator by slowly recharging the original battery.

How can I charge my solar calculator without the sun?

Simple Ways to Charge Solar Lights Without Sun: 7 Steps

1 Clean your solar panels when using them in cloudy weather. Sunlight will still reach your solar lights in cloudy weather, although not as much as in sunny weather. Cleaning any dust, dirt, or grime off the surface of the panels will thus help your solar lights charge more efficiently and make better use of limited sunlight.
- Be very gentle when cleaning your solar panels. Use clean water and a microfiber cloth to scrub the dirt and grime off of your lights.
- Avoid using detergents to clean the solar panels; these may cause streaking that could actually make it harder for the panels to charge.
- If you’re in an area that has a lot of dust, pollen, sandstorms, or fires, wash off the layers of dust, pollen, dander, or ashes with a hose.
2 Move the lights to be in the best position for receiving limited sunlight. Angle the solar panels to directly face the sun as it moves across the sky. This is especially important in winter, when there’s less sunlight available throughout the day.
- This is a relatively labor-intensive method, since you’ll have to continually reposition the lights throughout the day. If you’re unable to do this, place the lights somewhere they’ll get the most sunlight throughout the day (e.g., the middle of a backyard).
- For best results, charge your solar lights for 8-10 hours in full sunlight.
- Be sure to place your solar lights so that they’re not blocked from receiving sunlight, as they would be, for example, under a tall tree.
- The best direction to face your lights so they’re getting sunlight most of the day is South, followed by West, East, and North (in the Northern Hemisphere).
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3 Use mirrors to redirect sunlight to your lights, if needed. If the solar panels are positioned underneath a shadow, place a mirror nearby so that it reflects sunlight onto the panels. This isn’t a very efficient solution, though, so only resort to this if you can’t move the solar lights themselves into a better position.
- Go with mirrors that are about twice the size of the solar panel. This will increase the chances of the panels receiving as much sunlight as possible.
- For best results, position the mirrors diagonally on the ground so that they’re in a fixed position and lay the solar panels alongside them. This way, you don’t have to suspend the mirrors somewhere above the solar panels.
- Note that this method also requires you to frequently reposition the mirror, since the sun moves pretty rapidly across the sky.
4 Turn off the lights and let them charge more efficiently for 72 hours. Your solar lights will charge much more efficiently when they’re turned off. Be sure to leave them outside in a place where they’ll still receive as much sunlight as possible.
- It’s recommended that you do this on a regular basis (e.g., once a month) in order to keep your solar lights working as effectively as possible.
- This technique is known as a “deep charge” in the solar lighting industry.

1 Charge your solar lights with light from an incandescent bulb. The light from most incandescent bulbs is usually able to charge a solar light, although not as effectively as natural sunlight. Place the solar panels directly underneath a household light to charge them as quickly as possible without sunlight.
- Place your solar lights as close to the light bulb as possible. The further away it is from an incandescent light bulb, the longer it will take your solar panel to charge. Use a bulb with a high wattage to speed up the charging time.
- Note that this method is only worthwhile if you’re already using an incandescent bulb for lighting or some other purpose. It’s otherwise a very inefficient way of charging a solar panel.
- How quickly your solar lights will charge with this method depends on the specific model and lights that you’re using. For best results, charge your solar panels for at least 12 hours if you’re using incandescent lights.
2 Use LED lights to charge a solar light when you’re far from home. Battery-operated LED lights, like LED flashlights, are also able to charge solar lights. This is the best way to charge solar lights when you don’t have access to indoor lighting, such as when you’re camping.
- Charge your solar panels for at least 10-12 hours if you’re using an LED light to do so.
- Like using an incandescent bulb, this method is really only worthwhile if you’re already using an LED light for some other purpose.
3 Avoid placing your solar lights near street lights or porch lights. When solar lights are exposed to high-intensity light in the evenings, their sensitivity will decrease over time. For best results, place your lights as far away from artificial light as possible when using them in the evenings.
- Street lights, porch lights, and other types of automatic outdoor lighting are the most common causes of reduced solar light sensitivity over time.
- Note that this only applies to evenings when your lights are supposed to be running. It’s perfectly fine to expose your solar lights to artificial lighting when they’re turned off or charging.

Question My solar panel is not working well. When I turn on the switch, the light will take forever to turn on even though it’s daylight. Can you advise how to fix it? There are two possible reasons. One reason is the solar panel being broken. The other reason is the controller being board broken. If solar lights can still light for several days, it means the solar panel can still charge energy. Open the solar lights and replace the controller board.
Question Can I charge the unit with electricity and the solar panel at the same time? This can be quite dangerous to do, unless you are a qualified electrician. There are specific charges to charge certain devices but these are made specifically for those devices and they have a certain voltage amperage and polarity the voltage is normally transformed from 240 to a far lower voltage, so I would highly recommend not attempting this.

Ask a Question Advertisement This article was co-authored by, Guy Gabay is a Solar Energy Contractor and the CEO of AmeriGreen Builders, a full-service solar energy, roofing, HVAC and window installation company based in the greater Los Angeles, California region.

Co-authors: 5
Updated: October 10, 2022
Views: 74,730

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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 74,730 times.

“Knowing I am able to recharge my solar sign via condensate light in winter when needed was great news.”

: Simple Ways to Charge Solar Lights Without Sun: 7 Steps

How much energy does a calculator use?

Power-Up – Why Can’t All Calculators Be Solar-Powered? As a classroom teacher, making sure students technology tools had ‘power’ is a huge issue (this goes for whatever technology they are using). Calculators, despite what many may think, are still one of the most widely used technology tool in middle and high school math classes.

This is in large part because of availability for all students, cost (they are significantly more affordable than a tablet or laptop or even a smartphone), and ease-of-use (no power cords or outlets needed to keep them charged, small and easily carried around and pulled out when needed, no distractions such as internet or videos as on ‘other’ technology devices, etc.).

Power for calculators is often solar, which makes the cost even more affordable. For example, all Casio basic, fraction and scientific calculators are solar powered, so as long as there is a good light supply in a classroom, you don’t have to worry about students not having powered technology.

Graphing calculators, on the other hand, are not solar-powered, but instead use battery power (and some have plug-in capabilities). Batteries last a long time, but it is an extra expense and supply to have on hand. On the, I answer questions from viewers, and one that recently come up was ‘is it possible to make a solar-powered graphing calculator’, like the scientific calculators, and it got me thinking there must be a reason why graphing calculators are NOT solar.

Hence my exploration for this post – why aren’t graphing calculators solar-powered? Now, just based on my understanding of graphing calculator functionality compared to scientific and basic calculator functionality, it seems the natural assumption is solar power is not enough for the memory, speed, and functionality used/needed for a graphing calculator.

Calculator	Power Requirement	Display Lines	Variables	Program Capacity	Storage Memory Capacity
fx-991EX Classwiz Scientific Calculator	Built-in Solar – LR44 x 1, 3 year life; power consumption,0006w	32×6 lines	9	None	<1MB
fx-9750GIII Graphing	Four AAA batteries; power consumption,35w	128×64	28	62,000 bytes	3MB

Just on quick glance, you can see that my assumption that the graphing calculator has more functionality and memory, therefore needs more power than a solar battery can supply, is true. If you look at the image of the scientific calculator, the solar panel is in the top right corner of the calculator, so taking up ‘space’ on the face of the calculator.

But, it still has a fairly decent size view-screen, because the amount of solar power needed is relatively small (.0006w). It made me curious about what size solar panel would be needed for the graphing calculator, if we were to make it solar, as that might be a HUGE reason for not going solar -i.e. real-estate on the front screen.

Because obviously, you want to have a good-size viewing screen on a graphing calculator for multiple reasons, but a main one being to see graphs and images. So – I have done a bit of exploring on what size solar panel would be needed to run a graphing calculator that is consuming,35w of electricity.

The graphing calculator requires 4 AAA batteries, each of which supplies 1.5 volts of electricity. So the graphing calculator requires 6 volts of electricity. Watts – Volts x Amps, so for the graphing calculator,,35w=6v * Amps, which means it requires,0583 amps (current) of electricity. In the scientific calculator, the LR44 x 1 battery means the solar panel is providing 1.5 v of electricity for the,0006w of power consumption.

So,0006w = 1.5v x Amps, so the scientific calculator requires,0004 amps of electric current. That is a huge difference in need! And if we just look at size of solar panel, if the scientific calculator provides 1.5 v, and the graphing needs 1.5 v times 4, or 6 volts, then the solar panel for a graphing calculator would need to be four times the size of the one on the scientific.

I did a quick measure of the solar panel on my fx-991EX Scientific – it measures,75 in x 1.75 in.
So, if we multiply this by 4, the graphing calculator would need a solar panel that is 3 in x 7 in.
The calculator itself is 3.25 in x 6.875 in, so the solar panel would need to be slightly larger than the calculator to make it run, so where would you even put the keys and the view screen? I think we have hit on the main reason it makes no sense to power a graphing calculator with a solar panel – size, efficiency, and power needs.

Batteries are much easier and size-friendly!! Just a fun exploration on today’s National Electricity Day. : Power-Up – Why Can’t All Calculators Be Solar-Powered?

Is solar energy chemical energy?

Thermochemical energy storage could be the key to widespread concentrating solar power (CSP) deployment. Thermal energy from the sun can be stored as chemical energy in a process called solar thermochemical energy storage (TCES). The thermal energy is used to drive a reversible endothermic chemical reaction, storing the energy as chemical potential.

During periods of high solar insolation, an energy-consuming reaction stores the thermal energy in chemical bonds; when energy is needed, the reverse reaction recombines the chemical reactants and releases energy.
Incorporating storage into concentrating solar power (CSP) systems enables dispatchable generation, whereby utilities produce power to match demand.

This efficient method of power production overcomes intermittency challenges faced by other forms of renewable energy production. It also reduces the cost of solar energy through higher utilization. Thermochemical storage has inherently higher energy density than latent- or sensible-heat storage schemes because, in addition to sensible heat, energy is stored as chemical potential.

The endothermic reactions that could be employed for solar TCES can operate at significantly higher temperatures than current state-of-the-art CSP storage systems ( e.g., molten salt storage). Higher-temperature operation enables the use of high-efficiency power cycles. A storage scheme with higher energy density and higher power cycle efficiency could greatly reduce the cost of solar-derived power.

The challenge in developing solar TCES, however, is in achieving high enough energy and power density to offset increasingly complex process control, service life, and material compatibility issues inherent in the use of a high-temperature, chemically reactive system. ▲ Figure 1. From 1990 to 2005, wind and photovoltaics (PV) were deployed at much higher rates than concentrating solar power (CSP). Since then, the growth curve for CSP has begun to more closely mirror those other forms of renewable energy. Data courtesy John Pye.

What are the 3 types of solar energy?

Although most forms of energy have the sun as their ultimate source (see box), the term solar energy is generally used to refer to methods of collecting light and turning it directly into a useful form of energy. Technologies such as:

Passive solar gain Solar thermal (for heating) Concentrated solar power (for electricity) Solar Photovoltaics (electricity)

Is solar energy mechanical energy?

Solar energy vs Mechanical energy – Solar energy and Mechanical energy are different types forms of energy. Solar energy means energy comes from the sun through radiation comes toward us, and mechanical energy combines any substance’s potential energy and kinetic energy.

Is solar power renewable?

Solar energy is that produced by the Sun’s light – photovoltaic energy – and its warmth – solar thermal – for the generation of electricity or the production of heat. Inexhaustible and renewable, since it comes from the Sun, solar energy is harnessed using panels and mirrors.

What do you mean by solar energy?

Solar energy is any type of energy generated by the sun, Solar energy is created by nuclear fusion that takes place in the sun, Fusion occurs when protons of hydrogen atoms violently collide in the sun ‘s core and fuse to create a helium atom. This process, known as a PP (proton-proton) chain reaction, emits an enormous amount of energy.

In its core, the sun fuses about 620 million metric tons of hydrogen every second.
The PP chain reaction occurs in other stars that are about the size of our sun, and provides them with continuous energy and heat.
The temperature for these stars is around 4 million degrees on the Kelvin scale (about 4 million degrees Celsius, 7 million degrees Fahrenheit).

In stars that are about 1.3 times bigger than the sun, the CNO cycle drives the creation of energy. The CNO cycle also converts hydrogen to helium, but relies on carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen (C, N, and O) to do so. Currently, less than 2% of the sun ‘s energy is created by the CNO cycle.

Nuclear fusion by the PP chain reaction or CNO cycle releases tremendous amounts of energy in the form of waves and particles. Solar energy is constantly flowing away from the sun and throughout the solar system, Solar energy warms the Earth, causes wind and weather, and sustains plant and animal life.

The energy, heat, and light from the sun flow away in the form of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The electromagnetic spectrum exists as waves of different frequencies and wavelengths. The frequency of a wave represents how many times the wave repeats itself in a certain unit of time.

Waves with very short wavelengths repeat themselves several times in a given unit of time, so they are high- frequency,
In contrast, low- frequency waves have much longer wavelengths.
The vast majority of electromagnetic waves are invisible to us.
The most high- frequency waves emitted by the sun are gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet radiation (UV rays).

The most harmful UV rays are almost completely absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere, Less potent UV rays travel through the atmosphere, and can cause sunburn, The sun also emits infrared radiation, whose waves are much lower- frequency, Most heat from the sun arrives as infrared energy.

Sandwiched between infrared and UV is the visible spectrum, which contains all the colors we see on Earth.
The color red has the longest wavelengths (closest to infrared), and violet (closest to UV) the shortest.
Natural Solar Energy Greenhouse Effect The infrared, visible, and UV waves that reach the Earth take part in a process of warming the planet and making life possible—the so-called ” greenhouse effect,” About 30% of the solar energy that reaches Earth is reflected back into space.

The rest is absorbed into Earth’s atmosphere, The radiation warms the Earth’s surface, and the surface radiates some of the energy back out in the form of infrared waves. As they rise through the atmosphere, they are intercepted by greenhouse gases, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide.

Greenhouse gases trap the heat that reflects back up into the atmosphere.
In this way, they act like the glass walls of a greenhouse.
This greenhouse effect keeps the Earth warm enough to sustain life.
Photosynthesis Almost all life on Earth relies on solar energy for food, either directly or indirectly.

Producers rely directly on solar energy, They absorb sunlight and convert it into nutrients through a process called photosynthesis, Producers, also called autotrophs, include plants, algae, bacteria, and fungi. Autotrophs are the foundation of the food web,

Consumers rely on producers for nutrients,
Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and detritivores rely on solar energy indirectly.
Herbivores eat plants and other producers.
Carnivores and omnivores eat both producers and herbivores.
Detritivores decompose plant and animal matter by consuming it.
Fossil Fuels Photosynthesis is also responsible for all of the fossil fuels on Earth.

Scientists estimate that about 3 billion years ago, the first autotrophs evolved in aquatic settings. Sunlight allowed plant life to thrive and evolve. After the autotrophs died, they decomposed and shifted deeper into the Earth, sometimes thousands of meters.

This process continued for millions of years. Under intense pressure and high temperatures, these remains became what we know as fossil fuels, Microorganisms became petroleum, natural gas, and coal. People have developed processes for extracting these fossil fuels and using them for energy. However, fossil fuels are a nonrenewable resource,

They take millions of years to form. Harnessing Solar Energy Solar energy is a renewable resource, and many technologies can harvest it directly for use in homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals. Some solar energy technologies include photovoltaic cells and panels, concentrated solar energy, and solar architecture,

There are different ways of capturing solar radiation and converting it into usable energy.
The methods use either active solar energy or passive solar energy,
Active solar technologies use electrical or mechanical devices to actively convert solar energy into another form of energy, most often heat or electricity.

Passive solar technologies do not use any external devices. Instead, they take advantage of the local climate to heat structures during the winter, and reflect heat during the summer. Photovoltaics Photovoltaics is a form of active solar technology that was discovered in 1839 by 19-year-old French physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel.

Becquerel discovered that when he placed silver-chloride in an acidic solution and exposed it to sunlight, the platinum electrodes attached to it generated an electric current, This process of generating electricity directly from solar radiation is called the photovoltaic effect, or photovoltaics,

Today, photovoltaics is probably the most familiar way to harness solar energy, Photovoltaic arrays usually involve solar panels, a collection of dozens or even hundreds of solar cells. Each solar cell contains a semiconductor, usually made of silicon.

When the semiconductor absorbs sunlight, it knocks electrons loose. An electrical field directs these loose electrons into an electric current, flowing in one direction. Metal contacts at the top and bottom of a solar cell direct that current to an external object. The external object can be as small as a solar-powered calculator or as large as a power station.

Photovoltaics was first widely used on spacecraft. Many satellites, including the International Space Station, feature wide, reflective “wings” of solar panels, The ISS has two solar array wings (SAWs), each using about 33,000 solar cells. These photovoltaic cells supply all electricity to the ISS, allowing astronauts to operate the station, safely live in space for months at a time, and conduct scientific and engineering experiments.

Photovoltaic power stations have been built all over the world.
The largest stations are in the United States, India, and China.
These power stations emit hundreds of megawatts of electricity, used to supply homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals.
Photovoltaic technology can also be installed on a smaller scale.

Solar panels and cells can be fixed to the roofs or exterior walls of buildings, supplying electricity for the structure. They can be placed along roads to light highways. Solar cells are small enough to power even smaller devices, such as calculators, parking meters, trash compactors, and water pumps.

Concentrated Solar Energy Another type of active solar technology is concentrated solar energy or concentrated solar power (CSP).
CSP technology uses lenses and mirrors to focus (concentrate) sunlight from a large area into a much smaller area.
This intense area of radiation heats a fluid, which in turn generates electricity or fuels another process.

Solar furnaces are an example of concentrated solar power. There are many different types of solar furnaces, including solar power towers, parabolic troughs, and Fresnel reflectors. They use the same general method to capture and convert energy. Solar power towers use heliostats, flat mirrors that turn to follow the sun ‘s arc through the sky.

The mirrors are arranged around a central “collector tower,” and reflect sunlight into a concentrated ray of light that shines on a focal point on the tower.
In previous designs of solar power towers, the concentrated sunlight heated a container of water, which produced steam that powered a turbine,

More recently, some solar power towers use liquid sodium, which has a higher heat capacity and retains heat for a longer period of time. This means that the fluid not only reaches temperatures of 773 to 1,273 K (500 to 1,000° C or 932 to 1,832° F), but it can continue to boil water and generate power even when the sun is not shining.

Parabolic troughs and Fresnel reflectors also use CSP, but their mirrors are shaped differently. Parabolic mirrors are curved, with a shape similar to a saddle. Fresnel reflectors use flat, thin strips of mirror to capture sunlight and direct it onto a tube of liquid. Fresnel reflectors have more surface area than parabolic troughs and can concentrate the sun ‘s energy to about 30 times its normal intensity.

Concentrated solar power plants were first developed in the 1980s. The largest facility in the world is a series of plants in California’s Mojave Desert. This Solar Energy Generating System (SEGS) generates more than 650 gigawatt-hours of electricity every year.

Other large and effective plants have been developed in Spain and India. Concentrated solar power can also be used on a smaller scale. It can generate heat for solar cookers, for instance. People in villages all over the world use solar cookers to boil water for sanitation and to cook food. Solar cookers provide many advantages over wood-burning stoves: They are not a fire hazard, do not produce smoke, do not require fuel, and reduce habitat loss in forests where trees would be harvested for fuel.

Solar cookers also allow villagers to pursue time for education, business, health, or family during time that was previously used for gathering firewood. Solar cookers are used in areas as diverse as Chad, Israel, India, and Peru. Solar Architecture Throughout the course of a day, solar energy is part of the process of thermal convection, or the movement of heat from a warmer space to a cooler one.

When the sun rises, it begins to warm objects and material on Earth.
Throughout the day, these materials absorb heat from solar radiation.
At night, when the sun sets and the atmosphere has cooled, the materials release their heat back into the atmosphere,
Passive solar energy techniques take advantage of this natural heating and cooling process.

Homes and other buildings use passive solar energy to distribute heat efficiently and inexpensively. Calculating a building’s ” thermal mass ” is an example of this. A building’s thermal mass is the bulk of material heated throughout the day. Examples of a building’s thermal mass are wood, metal, concrete, clay, stone, or mud.

At night, the thermal mass releases its heat back into the room. Effective ventilation systems—hallways, windows, and air ducts—distribute the warmed air and maintain a moderate, consistent indoor temperature. Passive solar technology is often involved in the design of a building. For example, in the planning stage of construction, the engineer or architect may align the building with the sun ‘s daily path to receive desirable amounts of sunlight,

This method takes into account the latitude, altitude, and typical cloud cover of a specific area. In addition, buildings can be constructed or retrofitted to have thermal insulation, thermal mass, or extra shading. Other examples of passive solar architecture are cool roofs, radiant barriers, and green roofs,

Cool roofs are painted white, and reflect the sun ‘s radiation instead of absorbing it. The white surface reduces the amount of heat that reaches the interior of the building, which in turn reduces the amount of energy that is needed to cool the building. Radiant barriers work similarly to cool roofs.

They provide insulation with highly reflective materials, such as aluminum foil. The foil reflects, instead of absorbs, heat, and can reduce cooling costs up to 10%. In addition to roofs and attics, radiant barriers may also be installed beneath floors.

Green roofs are roofs that are completely covered with vegetation,
They require soil and irrigation to support the plants, and a waterproof layer beneath.
Green roofs not only reduce the amount of heat that is absorbed or lost, but also provide vegetation,
Through photosynthesis, the plants on green roofs absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen.

They filter pollutants out of rainwater and air, and offset some of the effects of energy use in that space. Green roofs have been a tradition in Scandinavia for centuries, and have recently become popular in Australia, Western Europe, Canada, and the United States.

For example, the Ford Motor Company covered 42,000 square meters (450,000 square feet) of its assembly plant roofs in Dearborn, Michigan, with vegetation, In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the roofs reduce stormwater runoff by absorbing several centimeters of rainfall. Green roofs and cool roofs can also counteract the ” urban heat island ” effect.

In busy cities, the temperature can be consistently higher than the surrounding areas. Many factors contribute to this: Cities are constructed of materials such as asphalt and concrete that absorb heat; tall buildings block wind and its cooling effects; and high amounts of waste heat is generated by industry, traffic, and high populations.

Using the available space on the roof to plant trees, or reflecting heat with white roofs, can partially alleviate local temperature increases in urban areas. Solar Energy and People Since sunlight only shines for about half of the day in most parts of the world, solar energy technologies have to include methods of storing the energy during dark hours.

Thermal mass systems use paraffin wax or various forms of salt to store the energy in the form of heat. Photovoltaic systems can send excess electricity to the local power grid, or store the energy in rechargeable batteries. There are many pros and cons to using solar energy,

Advantages A major advantage to using solar energy is that it is a renewable resource, We will have a steady, limitless supply of sunlight for another 5 billion years. In one hour, the Earth’s atmosphere receives enough sunlight to power the electricity needs of every human being on Earth for a year.

Solar energy is clean. After the solar technology equipment is constructed and put in place, solar energy does not need fuel to work. It also does not emit greenhouse gases or toxic materials. Using solar energy can drastically reduce the impact we have on the environment.

There are locations where solar energy is practical, Homes and buildings in areas with high amounts of sunlight and low cloud cover have the opportunity to harness the sun ‘s abundant energy. Solar cookers provide an excellent alternative to cooking with wood-fired stoves—on which 2 billion people still rely.

Solar cookers provide a cleaner and safer way to sanitize water and cook food. Solar energy complements other renewable sources of energy, such as wind or hydroelectric energy, Homes or businesses that install successful solar panels can actually produce excess electricity.

These homeowners or businessowners can sell energy back to the electric provider, reducing or even eliminating power bills.
Disadvantages The main deterrent to using solar energy is the required equipment.
Solar technology equipment is expensive.
Purchasing and installing the equipment can cost tens of thousands of dollars for individual homes.

Although the government often offers reduced taxes to people and businesses using solar energy, and the technology can eliminate electricity bills, the initial cost is too steep for many to consider. Solar energy equipment is also heavy. In order to retrofit or install solar panels on the roof of a building, the roof must be strong, large, and oriented toward the sun ‘s path.

Both active and passive solar technology depend on factors that are out of our control, such as climate and cloud cover,
Local areas must be studied to determine whether or not solar power would be effective in that area.
Sunlight must be abundant and consistent for solar energy to be an efficient choice.

In most places on Earth, sunlight ‘s variability makes it difficult to implement as the only source of energy. Fast Fact Agua Caliente The Agua Caliente Solar Project, in Yuma, Arizona, is the world’s largest array of photovoltaic panels. Agua Caliente has more than 5 million photovoltaic modules, and generates more than 600 gigawatt-hours of electricity.

Fast Fact Green Chicago Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois, has one of the most expansive green roofs in the worldalmost 100,000 square meters (more than a million square feet).
Vegetation at ground level covers 24.5 acres of an underground parking garage, and includes gardens, picnic areas, and an outdoor concert facility.

Fast Fact Solar Decathlon The Solar Decathlon is a biannual international event presented by the U.S. Department of Energy. Teams compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. A team from the University of Maryland won the 2011 contest, and the next Solar Decathlon will be held in 2013,

What is the process of solar energy?

STEP 2: The cells produce electrical current. – A silicon ingot and wafer Within each solar cell is a thin semiconductor wafer made from two layers of silicon. One layer is positively charged, and the other negatively charged, forming an electric field. When light energy from the sun strikes a photovoltaic solar cell, it energizes the cell and causes electrons to ‘come loose’ from atoms within the semiconductor wafer.

Do Calculators have solar panels?

When I mention this to people the realisation of such an interesting piece of technology being incorporated onto such a nostalgic device is surprising. In fact the photovoltaic panel has become part of the calculator’s iconic design and they often look strange without them. This was highlighted recently in an article online regarding manufacturers putting fake solar cells onto battery powered calculators just because we subconsciously expect a calculator to look that way.

How do I charge my solar calculator?

What type of energy is a crane?

The energy transformation of a crane is mechanical energy in the form of kinetic energy. Mechanical energy enables an object to apply a force to another object in order to cause it to be displaced and it is able to do work. It is calculated by the sum of kinetic energy and the potential energy.

Sudomo Susilo Budiman