We had a long Solar Energy Workshop where we discussed details of solar energy applications and constructions and their educational value for our project. We discussed about solar water heaters, solar cookers, solar food dryers, greenhouses, solar toys with photovoltaic cells and motors (cars and boats), sundials etc.

We decided on what kind of activities to focus on the 1st and then during the 2nd and 3rd year of the project. We have agreed to work on all categories of solar energy applications and constructions each year, but on particular designs for each project year. In this sense, different groups of pupils and different classes will deal with a similar set of solar energy applications and constructions every year throughout the project years. Nevertheless, at the end of the 3 year-period of the project we will have accumulated a broader set of solar energy applications and constructions tried and tested within classroom practice, delivered as a final outcome of the whole project. In this manner we believe that a broader range and number of future citizens will be aware and sensitized  on solar energy, leading to more considerate decision making and future action in alternative energy policies and sustainable development with environmental sensitivity and care.

Bringing things down to detailed application and practice, a thorough presentation and discussion on materials and designs of solar energy constructions and devices took place in the school science laboratory, setting the scene for future developments. The following photos depict some indicative aspects of the work conducted.

  Click on the photos to enlarge

A model greenhouse out of a box ... a possible beginning on passive solar applications

The pizza box solar cooker ... one of the simplest to start with

Two boxes that can become a solar box cooker ... Have a look at the analysis of solar energy applications & constructions depicted on the white board!

Discussing on solar box cookers ... glass Pyrex utensils with lids are suitable for cooking inside solar cookers

Ketty is holdig a solar box cooker made out of 2 boxes with insulation in between, without a top lid and with 1 reflector

This is a patent to hold and adjust the reflector on the lid or a box cooker using a piece of wooden stick and a holding device

Perhaps the simplest open panel solar cooker made out of a box cut across and along in a particular way and covered with aluminum foil

An open panel solar cooker with reflectors inside another box

Another particular disign of an open panel solar cooker inspired by R. Bernard

A semi-cylider model solar cooker made out of a Pringles box with reflectors ... for experimental purpuses

A serpentine solar water heater without its top lid

A kind of tank out of a plastic flask put inside a box made of polystyrene. It can be used in many designs of solar water heaters

The top lid that can be used on the collector of a solar water heater ... but also in a similar manner on top of a solar box cooker

The box and the design of a spiral solar water heater ... the "snail" as children have named it!

An internal view of the spiral solar water heater ...

A back view of the spiral solar water heater ... the cold water is coming in at the centre and goes out hotter from the periphery ...

The large sphere is the Sun of a model solar system hanging at the school foyer ... more on the in a while ...