Year: 1980
Type: report
Abstract: The Solar Index, or, more completely defined as the Service Hot Water Solar Index, was conceptualized during the spring of 1978 with direction from a US Government interoffice agency committee, headed by the Department of Energy. The purpose was to enhance public awareness to solar energy usability. Basically, the Solar Index represents the percentage of energy that solar would provide in order to heat an 80 gallon service hot water load for a given location and day. The Index is computer by utilizing SOLCOST, a computer program, which also has applications to space heating, cooling, and heat pump systems and which supplies economic analyses for such solar energy systems. The Index is generated for approximately 75 geographic locations in the country on a daily basis. The definition of the Index, how the project came to be, what it is at the present time and a plan for the future are described. Also presented are the models used for the generation of the Index, a discussion of the primary tool of implementation (the SOLCOST program) and future efforts.
DOI: 10.2172/5567878
Author: L J Lantz
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W150299604