About This Project

The role of alternative energy sources are having a larger impact on our lives than ever before. The addition of solar tiles and insulation to a structure can change its energy exchange/balance with the environment and therefore reduce the amount of greenhouse gases produced. The purpose of this experiment is to determine how close to an adiabatic system (no heat exchange between a system and its surrounding environment) a model home will become being fit with solar tiles and thermal insulation.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

The balancing act that leads to the current climate on Earth is nonlinear, i.e. small fluctuations, can produce daunting changes (refer to the evolution of Venus’ climate due to the runaway greenhouse effect). As energy becomes more affordable, increased usage is expected, as in the case of oil over the last several years. Will escalation of energy use reach levels able to perturb the fine balance?

In an attempt to offset this escalating energy usage, two main super powers have made their way to the forefront: solar and wind. Research into these fields has drastically reduced the cost of energy provided by these means. Additionally, congress has extended a tax credit for clean energy for the next 5 years. From a local to global viewpoint, these sources of energy are of interest to everyone.

What is the significance of this project?

There are several avenues for each form of renewable energy (water, wind, solar) which, if practiced on large scale, adverse effects arise. For example, solar energy: (i) placement of solar panels competes with agriculture; (ii) large regions covered in solar panels alter surface temperatures, which govern lower-atmospheric stratification above and microbial life in the soil below; (iii) greenhouse gases are still created due to solar cell manufacturing. Fortunately, unlike water and wind-energy harvesting, solar energy collection could be moved into space, assuming it can be done efficiently. Regardless, thermodynamically, entropy will increase overall with any activity. The subject is vast, requiring broad investments. We propose to start with a simple yet realistic problem.

What are the goals of the project?

The goal of this experiment is to determine how close to an adiabatic system a model house can become. The roof of the house will be fit with solar tiles, blocking solar energy from heating the roof (and consequently the inside of the house). This will remove one thermodynamic cycle. If heat transfer to the inside of the house is blocked, a heat pump to remove unwanted heat becomes unnecessary. Wall and window insulation for heat conduction and radiation will get the system closer to an adiabatic one in relation to its environment. There will always be heat leakage, but the biggest heat absorption is dealt with ideally by not allowing it to penetrate in the first place. A control model home will also be constructed, identical to the first, but without the addition of solar panels.