Solar Energy: To Capture the Power of Sun and Tide

Year Published: 1975

Complete Record: Introduction to a diverse group of people who have developed their own solar energy systems—both rural and urban. Jim Piper describes his hydronic system for supplying heat to housing developments, like Ventura del Sol in California; Bjorn Lundy studies various solar applications—passive heating, solar distillation, windmill on a barge in Lake Washington in Seattle; Gardner Green in New Hampshire discusses the vertical axis wind turbines; Ted Finch describes the work of the Energy Task Force that is working on alternate forms of energy for low income families in New York City; Ted Landers of the New Life Farm in Missouri demonstrates the operation of a hydraulic ram and the production of methane from biomass; Rudy Gunnerman of Eugene, Oregon describes the process for producing fibrous fuel pellets; Valerie Pope of San Bernadino West Side CDC discusses a program for members of low income families to learn to develop, design, manufacture, install, maintain, and repair solar heating equipment. Looks at the potential for solar energy as the solution to the world’s energy needs. Gives examples of solar and tidal power stations in France and shows a man’s house which uses the rain water and solar still to heat it. Examines the prospects for solar energy as a solution to the world’s energy needs in the future. Shows work being done now in the harnessing tidal and solar energy for practical and experimental purposes.