The solar industry is shining brightly. In 2010, the number of domestic installations of solar electric systems doubled from the previous year. In 2013, Indiana will be home to one of the largest solar panel manufacturing facilities in the country. With increased production capacity and streamlined installation procedures, the final cost to the customer is on a steady decline. There is no better time than the present to plug into solar power.
The three most common solar applications for a home are solar electric (photovoltaic or PV), solar thermal (hot water), and passive solar design. While the first two are similar to purchasing a major appliance, passive solar design is incorporated into the design and layout of a home. PV systems convert the sun’s rays into useable electricity and either feed the power into the utility grid or store the power in batteries. Solar thermal systems harvest the sun’s energy to supplement a home’s hot water heater and/or boiler. Passive solar design allows the sun’s warmth into a home in cold months and shades the structure in hot months. These are all very different applications, but they all utilize the same fuel source: the sun.
This year, instead of presenting information to festival-goers, N. Ryan Zaricki, with his company Whole Sun Designs, will bring his technology to you. On hand will be an off-grid, battery based PV system, a simple, grid-tied PV system, and a salvaged solar thermal panel, circulating water heated by the sun. Ryan will be on hand to answer questions regarding these systems and discuss the advantages and disadvantages, compare pricing, and explore maintenance and user-friendliness of each of these solar applications. Ultimately, it’s about understanding and working with that abundant fuel source in the center of our solar system.
Ryan Zaricki grew up in Rockport, Indiana, and graduated from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology near Terre Haute, Indiana. In 2011, Ryan founded Whole Sun Designs, specializing in solar power systems and green building. Taking a whole house approach to design and efficiency is critical to any successful project. Ryan has a wide variety of experience, including engineering, natural building, energy efficiency, and sustainable systems design. He has significant experience in renewable energy technologies, having installed over 500,000 watts of solar power. He currently spends much of his energy revitalizing a small homestead in Posey County with a strong emphasis on permaculture design–a design philosophy that create homes that produce more than they use.
The Solar Energy Discussion and demonstration will take place all day. Those interested will meet in under a canopy between the main stage and upper shelterhouse.
