Intro
Solar energy is the solar radiation that reaches the earth. Solar energy can be converted directly or indirectly into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity.  Solar energy is used for heating water for domestic use, space heating of buildings, drying agricultural products, and generating electrical energy. Electrical power for lighting can be reduced with effective building design with solar considerations in mind.

Electricity generation and photovoltaic devices
Electricity can be produced directly from solar energy using photovoltaic devices or indirectly from steam generators using solar thermal collectors to heat a working fluid.

Photovoltaic energy is the conversion of sunlight into electricity through a photovoltaic cell, commonly called a solar cell.  A photovoltaic cell is a nonmechanical device usually made from silicon alloys. When sunlight contacts the photovoltaic cell, electricity is generated directly.

Solar Heating
Several applications of solar thermal heating are available - heating swimming pools, heating water for domestic use, and space heating of buildings.  For these purposes, most applications use flat-plate solar-energy collectors with a fixed orientation (position). Solar collectors fall into two general categories:  nonconcentrating and concentrating. The nonconcentrating collectors are typically a simple panel whereas concentrating collectors are shaped to concentrate the energy in such a way that higher temperatures can be extracted.

Solar space heating systems can be classified as passive or active. In passive heating systems, the air is circulated past a solar heat surface(s) and through the building by convection (i.e. less dense warm air tends to rise while more dense cooler air moves downward) without the use of mechanical equipment.   In active heating systems, fans and pumps are used to circulate the air or the heat absorbing fluid.

Solar Lighting
Lighting can also be accomplished using the sun. Effective use of windows is an obvious way to have daytime lighting. More sophisticated methods include using interior lighting via lens collectors, reflective light-pipes, and fiber-optic bundles.

Services Provided
Toltec provides services the following services related to solar energy systems

• Solar energy system design
• Solar technology selections, feasibility studies
• Testing and optimization
• Audits/analysis of existing systems
• Support for compliance with local and federal regulations
• See Toltec's additional solar services at http://www.toltecenergy.com/solar_services.htm.