When answered in very basic terms, the answer to the question “What is solar energy?” is that it is energy from the sun. The sun’s radiant light and heat have been captured and utilized by humans since the ancient times. However, as technologies evolve, solar power also changes and progresses. Explaining how solar energy works is a slightly more complicated issue than defining it.

There are basically two types of solar power. These are passive and active. Each type of solar power is placed into one of these two categories. It is defined as passive or active depending upon exactly how the energy is used. Active energy tends to be stored and can be used later, while passive sources take advantage of the light without storing it. For instance, solar power that is used to create electricity through the use of thermal collectors and photovoltaic panels is considered to be active. Solar architecture techniques, on the other hand, are primarily considered to be passive. These techniques include things like designing spaces that allow for the natural circulation of air, using building materials with favorable thermal masses, or orienting buildings toward the sun.

Socrates’ Megaron House is a great example of ancient architecture that uses a passive solar design. The features on this building allowed air to circulate. This allowed the building’s occupants to enjoy a fairly comfortable range of temperatures. Modern day attempts at this type of architecture do not have to worry just about the occupants’ comfort levels. Obviously, the occupants of most contemporary buildings can be quite comfortable by using central heating or air conditioning. Instead, contemporary designers must worry about how to design a building in a manner that does not tempt its occupants to use conventional heating and cooling methods that exploit fossil fuels. Contemporary solar architecture uses features like orientation to the sun and selective shading. Then, they tailor these features to the local weather patterns in the region. By doing this, they are able to create well-lit and comfortable spaces that are not as reliant on fossil fuels. When combined with active solar features like pumps or fans, these buildings can seem amazing.

The answer to the question “What is solar energy?” is a short one. However, it is an answer that is primarily defined by how solar energy works. As technology continues to change and advance, the way that we use energy from the sun will also continue to change and advance. Ultimately, these changes will make it more widely used and more affordable to purchase and implement.

Related Posts:

• Residential Solar Energy Systems: What is the Best Place for Solar Panels?
• 6 Facts About Solar Energy You Didn’t Know
• How Burnham Energy Came to BE

If you want to build a new driveway in New York City, you will need to obtain a driveway permit from the DOB (Department of Buildings) Office. Although building a new driveway may seem like a relatively small job, you will need to complete just as many steps as you would have to for a larger project.

Outside of the city, the rules concerning driveway permits vary. You should check the individual rules of your municipality or county. If your home is located on a State highway, you most likely need to obtain a driveway permit from the DOT (Department of Transportation). If you have any questions about what steps you need to take in your particular area, you can speak with a Burnham Nationwide consultant. They can give you advice about the process and help ensure you meet criteria within your area.

If you live in NYC, you need to complete the following steps. First, pre-file all of your forms. You must complete a PW-1 form which can be picked up at the DOB or downloaded from their website. You will also need a set of drawings of your plan. If you are also building a garage, you may need to fill out asbestos forms as well. Once you submit three copies of all of these forms to the DOB, they will determine how much of a fee you owe, and they will assign you a BIS job number.

After you pay your fee, your forms will be sent to the data entry department. They will enter the details of your application into their computer system and forward those details to a plan examiner. Once the examiner has the plan, he or she will check it for completeness and to ensure that it is inline with all of the relevant codes. If there are any problems at this point, the forms will be sent back to you.

A driveway permit should be an easy and straightforward process. However, they can sometimes take ages to process for just the simplest mistake. If you want to ensure that your application is perfect, you should have a consultant from a company like Burnham Nationwide guide you. The staff at their New York office has years of experience working with all sorts of permits and city officials and can help you ensure a smooth process.

Related Posts:

• Getting a Driveway Permit in Chicago
• Understanding NYC Building Permits
• Buildings NY/Greenbuildings NY 2010 Show
• NYC Improving Permit Renewal
• NY Special & Progress Inspections

Everybody knows that solar power is better for the environment than many other traditional forms of energy. This is due to the fact that it does not create green house gases like fossils fuels do when they are burned. However, there are many other facts about solar energy that may surprise you. We at Burnham Nationwide have gathered together some interesting facts about solar energy and the history of solar energy.

1. Cost. Sunlight, of course, is free. However, it must be collected in cells and then stored in batteries; those items can be expensive. The batteries must be able to store the energy so that it can be used when it is needed. That storage system and the technology that converts the sunlight into direct currents allow it to be used at night and on cloudy days. As solar power continues to become more widely used as an energy source, its price will start to fall. Currently, many consumers are concerned about climate change. Thus, they are turning to solar power. Some of them are making these changes after being encouraged by global legislation.  In fact, in 1985, there was only a 21MW demand for this type of energy, and now, there is approximately a 5.9GW demand per year, representing a significant increase.

2. Usage worldwide. Right now, the United States ranks third in the world for solar power usage. Spain is first in the world, and they used 285% more of it last year than the year before. Germany has recently moved from first place to second place. Korea takes fourth place and is followed by Italy and Japan. At sixth place, Japan is actually further back than it has ever been. Japan used to account for about fifty percent of the global demand for solar power only a few years ago.

3. Electricity availability. Currently, about two billion people have no access to electricity. When they start to use electricity, it may be solar, and it will be a new chapter in the history of the world and its energy sources. As the cost of implementing solar energy decreases, there is potential to bring it to more remote areas and villages.

4. Nuclear power. Energy from the sun is based on nuclear power. However, it utilizes a nuclear power plant that is about ninety-three million miles away from earth. That is correct; the sun’s energy is created by nuclear reactions on the sun!

5. History of solar energy. Leonardo Da Vinci used the sun’s rays to heat water at the Vatican. By building a system of concave mirrors, he was able to effectively heat water with them. He is notorious for many things, but some of his inventions, such as the airplane, were never built during his lifetime. Years after his death, the first airplane was built. Now, it is even possible for some of these planes to run off of energy from the sun. In 1990, a solar powered aircraft flew across the U.S. without using any other fuel. The trip took 121 hours of flying and required the plane to stop about twenty times. There are other world records that show that planes have been able to fly up to twenty-six hours without stopping.

6. Fossil fuels. If you think about it from a scientific standpoint, fossil fuels are actually forms of solar power. Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas, all formed millions of years ago from the decomposition of plants. Those plants were reliant on the sun for their growth and for their very existence. Thus, without the sun, these plants would have never formed fossil fuels.

There are so many facts about solar energy to consider. The entire planet relies on the sun for its survival, and as solar power becomes more prolific, we will rely also on it for our lights, our warm showers, and our central heating, among other things. New discoveries in the coming years will continue to bring new and exciting innovations in the field of solar energy.

Related Posts:

• Residential Solar Energy Systems: What is the Best Place for Solar Panels?
• What Can LEED Sustainability Offer Academic Institutions?
• How green can you go?
• Does Your Project Have Renewable Energy Features?
• How Burnham Energy Came to BE

Once a house has been completed, it can be difficult to add certain green remodeling features. Prior to implementing such drastic changes, homeowners should speak to consultants like the ones at Burnham Nationwide. They can provide essential advice before large projects are undertaken. However, there are several small steps that homeowners can take on their own. These small green remodeling ideas can have a large impact and will potentially save homeowners money, while also saving the planet.

One of the easiest green remodeling tactics for homeowners is reducing the air leaks that are caused by drafty windows. By sealing off drafts, homeowners can reduce their total energy bills by five to thirty percent. Those figures are estimates from the United States Department of Energy. Because energy prices vary from city to city, it can be hard to convert those values into a dollar amount. However, in a place like Minnesota where energy bills for a small drafty home can be as much as $400 per month in the winter, those savings would equate to anywhere between $20 and $120 per month. Over time, those savings can add up to a lot of money.

To find drafts, you can carefully wave an incense stick around every window frame. The direction that the smoke blows will tell you if there is a leak or not. After you find the leaks, you should use caulk or weather stripping to seal them. If there are any pipe outlets or foundation cracks, you should make sure that you cover them as well. If the bottoms of your doors allow in drafts, you should address these spaces too. A rolled up towel is the perfect easy remedy for these drafty spots.

Another easy green remodeling tactic is to install a programmable thermostat. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an average family can save about $13 per month with a programmable thermostat. This device ensures that you never forget to turn down the heat at night or during the day while you are at work. With that figure in mind, you will have covered the cost of the thermostat itself in as few as four months. You can purchase these devices at most big-box home improvement stores or small hardware stores. As long as you have a screwdriver and the instructions on hand, you should be able to quickly uninstall your old thermostat and install one of these.

You can reduce your family’s water usage without making any major changes to your lifestyle. The three main ways to make this happen are: fixing leaks, installing green toilets, and using low-flow showerheads. Drippy faucets or pipe joints can sound annoying. However, in addition to sounding annoying, they also waste a lot of water. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a dripping faucet can waste up to three gallons of water every day! Most leaks can be fixed with pliers or a wrench. However, some leaks are difficult to reach. For those, you should contact a professional.

Approximately thirty percent of a family’s water usage is via their toilet. When you consider this staggering statistic, it only makes sense to invest in a low-flow toilet. A generation ago, toilets all used five gallons of water per flush. Now, low-flow toilets can do the same job with less than a gallon of water. Family’s can extend their green remodeling efforts to their showers as well. For only $8, homeowners can purchase low-flow showerheads that will reduce their shower-water consumption by anywhere from fifty to seventy percent.

After making all of those changes, is it time for new appliances yet? Energy Star appliances can be found at nearly any appliance retailer or even ordered online. The Energy Star label was designed by the EPA. When an appliance displays the Energy Star designation, it means that it is ten to fifty percent more efficient than a standard appliance in the same category. These appliances will help homeowners lower monthly energy bills, create less pollution, and in some cases, they may even make the buyer eligible for a tax credit. Once a home is full of energy star products, the homeowners can save about $600 per year.

All of these green remodeling tips are great for your planet, as well as your pocket book. If you need advice about making more drastic changes, you should speak with one of the green consultants at Burnham Nationwide. It’s never too late to go green!

Related Posts:

• What Can LEED Sustainability Offer Academic Institutions?
• The LEED Certification Process – Part 1: Requirements
• How Using Green Construction Materials Saves You Thousands
• Why Do You Need LEED Consulting?
• Growing Trends in Green Building Technologies