Fonctionnement - Solar house

1. Well exposed (behind a south window for instance), the photovoltaic cell produces enough electricity to recharge the battery. At nightfall, the battery automatically powers the led (light) in the House.

2. For the solar thermal collector, fill the black tube with a little bit of water (measure the temperature with a thermometer). Expose the collector for about 30 minutes in full sun and compare the temperatures of the water. You can use the steak thermometer.

3 For the passive solar design (greenhouse effect) compare the temperature before and after exposing the green house to the Sun. Be sure to keep the tip of the thermometer in the shade.

4. A black and massive floor allows to store the heat of the Sun during the the day and give it back during the night.

Here is a video showing children building the passive house model (a class of the school Coteau Fleuri 6/7 in Lausanne).