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Green technologies are generally those technologies that are used to ensure that buildings do least harm to the environment while delivering enhanced operational performance.
Green technologies include those technologies aimed at renewable energy generation (wind, geothermal, solar light, solar heat), HVAC systems that do not release global warming gases or other harmful gases and/or chemicals, low-energy lamps as well as solar lights, solar water heaters and heating, green roofs, grey/brown/black water recycling, rain water harvesting, heat exchangers, motion sensors, light sensors, low-flow sanitary fittings, waterless urinals, urine-diversion toilet closets, double glazing, thermal bridging reduction, night flushing, air chimneys, water-cooled air intake towers, and Building Management Systems (BMS) to name but a few.
- Llewellyn van Wyk
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Solar energy is the utilization of the radiant energy from the sun. Solar power is used interchangeable with solar energy but refers more specifically to the conversion of sunlight into electricity by photovoltaics and concentrating solar thermal devices or by one of several experimental technologies such as thermoelectric converters, solar chimneys and solar ponds.
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Photovoltaic (PV) or solar modules are made up of solar cells that are connected in series. The most common commercial cells are made from purified Silicon (Si). The Silicon cell is essentially a p-n junction that utilises the energy from the sunlight to generate electron flow from the p-type Si (via an external resistance) to the n-type Si. A typical solar module comprises of 36 cells connected in series to produce an operating voltage of 12V.
PV systems often include a battery bank for energy storage, and a charge controller that regulates the power flow into and out of the battery bank. Battery banks are typically sized in order to provide energy during days of no or limited sunshine (cloudy/rainy days).
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At the end of 2007, global capacity for wind energy was at 94.1 gigawatts. Although this is just a mere 1% of world-wide use, some countries are using it to it’s full benefit. Demark accounts for 19%, Spain and Portugal are at 9% and Germany is using 6%. Since 2000, wind power has increased five times.
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The energy is generated by wind farms in large scales. They are then connected to the electrical grid. Isolated area’s, and farms sometimes have their own wind turbine to create energy, thereby allowing them to be “off the grid”.
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Biomass refers to living and recently dead biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Although biomass includes both plant and animal matter, it is most commonly referred to plant matter grown biofuel, production for fibres, chemicals or heat. Some of the more common plants include miscanthus, switchgrass, hemp, corn, poplar, willow, sugarcane and oil palm.
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Fossil fuels are not considered as biomass, although they have their origin in ancient biomass techniques. This is due to them containing carbon that has been “out” of the carbon cycle for a very long time.
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