Background

Our energy source: 
The Sun

The sun is the key to most of the energy on planet Earth.

The sun is used in many different ways to produce energy. Since the sun is the reason why most things happen on Earth, there are many power sources derived from the sun. There is biomass, wind power, hydroelectric, solar power, coal, oil, natural gas, and more. However, our project is focusing mainly on solar power, which focuses on the rays of the sun directly. The rays emit heat, and that heat will be utilized to our advantage through a passive solar oven.

Since the heat is being used directly, passive solar energy is actually pretty efficient. If it is used to its maximum potential, it can be 65%-70% efficient¹, which is really good.

Advantages of Passive Solar Energy

• Low start up costs
• Eco-friendly
• Easier to set up then normal solar system

Disadvantages of Passive Solar Energy

• Takes a lot of work to implement into an apartment
• It would be hard to use the power
• You have to do ample research on the area you're in⁴

http://www.voanews.com/content/s-africas-power-crisis-sparks-interest-in-solar-power/2731328.html


This article is a good example of what we are trying to accomplish in this lab: Using the sun to our advantage. Our design in the introduction uses the light from the sun and magnifies it to produce the best effect.


Future of Passive solar energy

The European Union has realized it is time to start relying more on renewable energy sources. They have set a goal so that by 2020, the use of renewable sources will be increased by 20%, especially in solar power⁵. The power of the sun is increasing in use every day. This power source can easily be marketed since its only costs are in startup. Some projects are being designed in places where there are massive amounts of heat, such as deserts. As weird as it seems, the deserts could become the highest source of efficient energy in the world.

Sources:

"Passive Solar Heating Design." Wikipedia. N.P., N.D. Web. 6 May 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_solar_building_design#Efficiency_and_economics_of_passive_solar_heating>.

Sun. WIkipedia. Web. 6 May 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun>.

"S. Africa’s Power Crisis Sparks Interest in Solar Power." Voice of America. N.P., N.D. Web. 6 May 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_solar_building_design#Efficiency_and_economics_of_passive_solar_heating>.

"Passive Solar Energy Pros and Cons." Clean Green Renewable Energy Passive Solar Energy Pros and Cons Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://cleangreenenergyzone.com/passive-solar-energy-pros-and-cons/>.

"The Future of Solar." REC. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.recgroup.com/en/tech/the-future-of-solar/>.