There are 3 basic approaches today to gain maximum benefit of solar energy in buildings:

�• Active Solar Heating

�• Passive Solar

�• Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

Active Solar Heating is one of the primary ways for buildings to use solar energy. This technology uses solar collectors to transform sunlight into heat to produce space and/or water heating. Solar heating is the most common application of active solar thermal in Europe. A correctly sized solar water heating system can cover 60-70% of your hot water heating requirements with free solar energy. A solar thermal system providing space and water heating is generally referred to as a solar combi-system. It is generally sized to cover 30-40% of the annual heating requirements of a house in Northern Europe.

Passive Solar Architecture is a building design approach which seeks to maximise solar gains in the building through orientation, layout and design. It avoids heat loss through ensuring a high level of insulation and air-tightness of the building and it ensures a high degree of comfort by using controlled ventilation and daylighting.

"Photovoltaic" means electricity from light, so in essence, photovoltaic systems use daylight (not necessarily direct sunlight) to convert solar radiation into electricity. The light which shines on the PV cells creates an electric field causing electricity to flow. The greater the intensity of the light, the greater the flow of electricity. Photovoltaic systems use semi-conductor materials to convert solar energy into electricity. This technology is widely used in consumer products such as solar calculators, watches and garden lights and is increasingly used as a cost effective solution in Ireland for stand-alone applications where grid connection is too expensive, e.g. parking meters, caravans or remote holiday homes. Solar PV can also be used to provide free solar electricity to houses as well as for commercial and industrial applications. Recent developments in regulations mean that it will shortly be possible to connect solar PV systems to the grid, opening up a new era for solar PV in Ireland.