Solar Aquaponics Designing a 100% Solar Aquaponics Greenhouse Dan Chiras, Ph.D. Director, The Evergreen Institute Gerald, MO 63037 www.evergreeninstitute.org Topics  Creating a 100% solar operation  Efficiency First!  Solar electricity – lighting, water pumps, and aeration  Not resistive heating!  Solar thermal – heating water  Passive solar heating and cooling Understanding Solar Energy The Sun  Earth orbits around the sun  Completing its path every 365 days  Earth’s orbit is elliptical  Distance from the Sun varies  Earth is closest to the Sun during the winter  Farthest from the Sun in the summer Understanding Solar Energy From Jim Dunlop, Photovoltaic Systems, ATP From Jim Dunlop, Photovoltaic Systems, ATP From Jim Dunlop, Photovoltaic Systems, ATP The Sun’s Path  Position of the Sun changes during the year  As a result of the changing relationship between the Earth and the Sun  Sun “carves” a high path across the summer sky  Reaches its highest point on June 21  June 21 = longest day of the year  Aka the Summer Solstice  Sun carves a low path across the sky on December 21  Shortest day of the year  Winter Solstice Solar Window