Applications of solar energy can be grouped into three primary categories: heating/cooling, electricity production and chemical processes. The most widely used applications are for water and space heating.
Green Sun Rising Inc. is a Windsor Ontario based company, focusing on supplying solar thermal collectors and renewable energy based heating systems.
The solar collectors capture the sun's rays and directly turn the captured sun energy into heat. A heat transfer medium (water/ glycol mixture) is used to transport the energy from the collector into a solar storage tank. Inside the solar storage tank, the energy is transferred through a built-in heat exchanger to the potable water inside the tank. A pump is used to circulate the heat transfer medium, and a control unit makes sure that the optimum pump speed is used and that the system only runs when solar energy is available.
Solar cooling: Solar thermal energy can also be used for solar cooling. Using the same high-efficiency collectors and storage tank, and adding a second cooling cycle driven by the energy drawn from the storage tank, solar energy can be used for cooling. More info at www.solid.at.
Klaus Dohring, a former Rotary scholar, brought us a message on energy sources that contained a warning that humankind needed to change its' ways in how it produces and consumes energy. He said that the earth's population was over consuming energy and polluting with the production byproducts in a fashion that could lead to catastrophic consequences for our environment. He told the audience that every human being had an obligation to become a knowledgeable and conscientious energy consumer. He said that until now we have allowed the simple economics of cheap sources of energy to drive our consumptive patterns but that scientific evidence was mounting that we needed to research and fund the development of alternative sources of energy. He gave examples of how Solar and Wind Energy programs were being successfully introduced in European countries. He concluded his talk by telling us that renewable energy resources must be our new vision.
This is the video connection mentioned by Klaus during his talk
The German Video on Combined Power Plant includes solar, wind, and biomass resources for a complete renewable electric grid.
The Combined Power Plant
A letter was read from the Vice President of Rotary International commending our club on our promotion of the 4-Way Test in a program initiated throughout India's school system. Although the program received financial support and encouragement at both the District 6400 and International levels, its' Originator was our own Om Chandna who was ably
assisted by a network of Rotarians in India.
To view a report on today's meeting, visit our upcoming
Internet Wheel page.
The upcoming Internet Wheel is scheduled to appear on the Thursday before our next Monday meeting.
Click here for a photo gallery showing meeting pictures with captions.
Last Revised: November 19, 2008
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