Open AccessSolar flair.
Author(s) -
John Manuel
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
environmental health perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 282
eISSN - 1552-9924
pISSN - 0091-6765
DOI - 10.1289/ehp.111-a104
Subject(s) - photovoltaic system , daylighting , government (linguistics) , economic shortage , incentive , electricity , business , solar energy , solar power , architectural engineering , electric light , engineering , environmental economics , power (physics) , electrical engineering , economics , physics , philosophy , linguistics , quantum mechanics , microeconomics
Design innovations and government-sponsored financial incentives are making solar energy increasingly attractive to homeowners and institutional customers such as school districts. In particular, the passive solar design concept of daylighting is gaining favor among educators due to evidence of improved performance by students working in daylit classrooms. Electricity-generating photovoltaic systems are also becoming more popular, especially in states such as California that have high electric rates and frequent power shortages. To help spread the word about solar power, the U.S. Department of Energy staged its first-ever Solar Decathlon in October 2002. This event featured solar-savvy homes designed by 14 college teams.