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Solar Versus Trees
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PolicySpy
May 19, 2013, 7:51:40 PM5/19/13
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There are new articles about global warming and the effect on central cities where there is a lot of pavement and concrete to hold the heat.
And then new solar panel companies are developing even as the solar industry in general is in trouble because of dropping margins and competition.
But consider summer heat on the house. If the house is shaded by trees that is more benefit than the electricity produced by a few solar panels on the roof. Also, realize that a tree is not artificial shade but is natural shade and has water evaporating out of the leaves. And the historical neighborhoods with large trees are the coolest place in town.
But let's plan both trees and solar panels. The house faces East. A single canopy tree is planted in the front yard and one or more canopy trees are planted in the back yard. (The tree in the front yard must clear water lines, natural gas lines, and sewer lines.) The distance from the trees to the house is about 40 feet. Next, a few solar panels are installed on the North end of the roof and face South. The reason that a tree is not planted in the South yard is that the side yard is only 10 feet wide (or 20 feet wide if combined with the neighbor yard). The reason that the solar panels are on the North end of the roof is that there could be tall trees to the South on other lots and the South facing solar panels need angle.
Problems ? Well, the roof of the house needs to be designed for the situation since most home owners want the solar panels flat on the roof.
A simple system ? That's one solar panel up on a stainless-steel pole at the North end of the house and facing South. Then DC batteries are charged by the solar panel to make four or five DC lights in the house. DC lights ? These are boat fixtures and available in good quality.
But really, a tree in the South yard would still be better than the solar panels.
And then drought resistant trees ? Any tree with a waxy leaf is probably drought resistant. However, a hardwood tree can shade the house in summer but let sunlight through in the winter. So we all might search for drought resistant hardwood trees.
Of course a desert climate is not going to have canopy trees can just have the solar panels. Then a house design for a desert climate ? Consider gable ends where the entire gable is stainless-steel slats with stainless-steel mesh inside. Also, the entire roof ridge can be a vent with newly designed systems available
.
And then new solar panel companies are developing even as the solar industry in general is in trouble because of dropping margins and competition.
But consider summer heat on the house. If the house is shaded by trees that is more benefit than the electricity produced by a few solar panels on the roof. Also, realize that a tree is not artificial shade but is natural shade and has water evaporating out of the leaves. And the historical neighborhoods with large trees are the coolest place in town.
But let's plan both trees and solar panels. The house faces East. A single canopy tree is planted in the front yard and one or more canopy trees are planted in the back yard. (The tree in the front yard must clear water lines, natural gas lines, and sewer lines.) The distance from the trees to the house is about 40 feet. Next, a few solar panels are installed on the North end of the roof and face South. The reason that a tree is not planted in the South yard is that the side yard is only 10 feet wide (or 20 feet wide if combined with the neighbor yard). The reason that the solar panels are on the North end of the roof is that there could be tall trees to the South on other lots and the South facing solar panels need angle.
Problems ? Well, the roof of the house needs to be designed for the situation since most home owners want the solar panels flat on the roof.
A simple system ? That's one solar panel up on a stainless-steel pole at the North end of the house and facing South. Then DC batteries are charged by the solar panel to make four or five DC lights in the house. DC lights ? These are boat fixtures and available in good quality.
But really, a tree in the South yard would still be better than the solar panels.
And then drought resistant trees ? Any tree with a waxy leaf is probably drought resistant. However, a hardwood tree can shade the house in summer but let sunlight through in the winter. So we all might search for drought resistant hardwood trees.
Of course a desert climate is not going to have canopy trees can just have the solar panels. Then a house design for a desert climate ? Consider gable ends where the entire gable is stainless-steel slats with stainless-steel mesh inside. Also, the entire roof ridge can be a vent with newly designed systems available
.
PolicySpy
May 19, 2013, 8:28:30 PM5/19/13
to
As for roof venting, I'm seeing sources that say that continous ridge venting combined with continous under-eve soffit venting is the best method. And then gable vents that are too large would interfere with the air flow of eve to roof.
Personally, I would look for stainless-steel parts
.
Personally, I would look for stainless-steel parts
.
PolicySpy
May 19, 2013, 8:30:39 PM5/19/13
to
As for roof venting, I'm seeing sources that say that continous ridge venting combined with continous under-eve soffit venting is the best method. And then gable vents that are too large would interfere with the air flow of eve to ridge.
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