A system for providing air conditioning to a living space and heating potable water. The system comprising a heat pump circuit comprising a compressor for circulating a refrigerant around the heat pump circuit, a first condenser, a second condenser and an evaporator. The evaporator being adapted to receive a first flow of air from an air inlet to transfer heat from the first flow of air to the refrigerant. The first condenser being adapted to receive a flow of water to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the water. The second condenser being adapted to receive a second flow of air to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the second flow of air. The first flow being provided from the evaporator to a living space by an air outlet.

A heat transfer system includes a conduit having open first and second ends, first and second thermal exchange segments disposed in-between and in fluid communication with the ends, and a means for adding fluid to the first end. The first thermal exchange segment is disposed underneath and in thermal communication with the ground, a body of water, or other location with a different temperature. The first and second ends are arranged above all other section of conduit and relative to one another so that they are communicating vessels and a change in fluid level in one changes the fluid level in the other. The means for adding fluid to the first end of the conduit causes fluid to flow freely from the first end to the second end and fluid level to rise in the second overcoming any hydrostatic pressure in the system without a pump disposed along the conduit.

A system for distilling water is disclosed. The system comprises a heat source, and a plurality of open-cycle adsorption stages, each stage comprising a plurality of beds and an evaporator and a condenser between a first bed and a second bed, wherein each bed comprises at least two vapor valves, a plurality of hollow tubes, a plurality of channels adapted for transferring water vapor to and from at least one of the condenser or the evaporator, a thermally conductive water vapor adsorbent, and wherein each vapor valve connects a bed to either the condenser or the evaporator.

The invention relates to a movable shingle arrangement of rectangular strip modules comprising a covering of solar cells on carrier materials that differ according to choice, such that the shingle arrangement can be arranged in such a way as to allow it to be unfolded, extended or set up as a canopy. The problem addressed is that of providing a novel connecting structure for a movable shingle arrangement, wherein supporting structures for mounting and displacement purposes are formed on an arranged system of rails that can be extended or swung out. The shingle arrangement (1) according to the invention consists of coupled rectangular strip modules (2), which are covered with crystalline and thin-layer solar cells (3) and overlap one another. A system of rails (6, 21) is arranged along at least two outer edges (18). Formed under the system of rails (6, 21) are supporting structures suitable for mounting and guiding purposes. Arranged on the rectangular strip modules (2) is/are one, two or more rows of solar cells (3), which are arranged next to one another and are interconnected in such a way that there is a maximum possible surface coverage with active photovoltaic solar-cell material. In the extended state, the rectangular strip modules (2) overlap like shingles. Along at least one long side (19) of the rectangular strip module (2), a defined perforated structure made up of depressions or through-openings (9) is arranged in such a way that elevations, balls or pins (10) of an adjacently arranged rectangular strip module (2) engage in this perforated structure, and so a mechanically stable connection is produced. The rectangular strip modules (2) are coupled to one another by means of a cable pull or a system of rails (5) in such a way that they can be extended or retracted manually or automatically. In the pulled-in or retracted state, the rectangular strip modules (2) arranged longitudinally or transversely alongside one another lie one above the other in a stack or one alongside the other in a shingle box (23). The rectangular strip modules (2) may be set up for example in an upwardly sloping manner by means of a system of double rails, in order to make an optimum energy yield possible.

Systems and methods for mounting solar panels include a curb assembly coupled to a top surface of a roof. An end of a solar panel rests on a portion of the assembly. An astragal is located with a portion of the astragal extending over the edge of the solar panel. A fastener is engaged through the astragal and the curb assembly such that a portion of the astragal contacts and compressively engages the top surface of the supported solar panel edge, whereby the solar panel is mounted to the roof. Moreover, systems and methods cleaning solar panels of a solar panel system installed on an exterior surface are also described.

In a control device, an instruction acquirer acquires an instruction to suppress in a specified period supplying of generated power generated by power generator installed in a power-consuming area to a commercial electrical power system. Upon the instruction acquirer acquiring the instruction, a water heater controller commands a water heater installed in the power-consuming area to perform a water heat-up operation when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the specified period.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and methods of use are described. The HVAC system includes at least one internal surface temperature sensor configured to provide an interior wall surface temperature measurement. The internal surface temperature sensor is positioned on an interior surface of an external wall of the residential house. The HVAC system also includes a control system in communication over a network with the internal surface temperature sensor. The control system is configured to obtain the interior wall surface temperature measurement and apply a home heat transfer model to determine a predicted space air temperature. The home heat transfer model is based on thermal dynamics of space air and building structure using the interior wall surface temperature measurement.

In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, solar energy shade structures and methods of design and revenue generation are disclosed. These systems comprise structures capable of supporting solar panel at heights greater than 18 feet above their mounting surface. These systems may be installed in confined spaces. These systems also comprise structures that are customizable, allowing an installation to be configured with a desired lighting and environmental effect. The methods discussed herein describe processes for achieving desired design effects based on natural elements. Moreover, the methods discussed herein describe processes for reducing the costs of generating solar energy and/or reducing the costs of providing a solar structure.

The invention herein disclosed and claimed is an L-bracket and flashing assembly used to mount a rack for supporting a solar-panel array. It uses fewer sub-assemblies and is simpler and faster to install than prior art L-bracket and flashing assemblies.

The present teachings relate to a solar roof forming element for forming a solar roof of a building, comprising an extruded, elongate polymer roof plate, element coupling means, at least one solar panel covering the roof plate, panel coupling means for coupling the solar panel to the roof plate, comprising a first coupling part at a first side of the roof plate and a second coupling part at a first side of the solar panel, said coupling parts configured such that they mutually couple as a result of a movement of the solar panel relative to the roof plate, wherein in a coupled state a movement of the solar panel away from the roof plate in a direction perpendicular to the roof plate is blocked. The present teachings further relate to a combination of such solar roof forming elements, to a building, and to a method of forming a roof.