So what’s solar heating you ask? A Solar heating system reduces the need for conventional water heating by about 2/3. Normally a solar heating system has two parts, a solar collector and a storage tank. The collector heats the water, then it stores the water in the storage tank until it is ready to use. A conventional system is set up in addition to the solar heating system in case additional heating is necessary.
They call these active and passive solar heating systems. The conventional system uses electricity and pumps to circulate the water. The solar heating system relies on gravity and circulates the water when heated. The solar systems are actually more reliable because they have no electrical components and are easily maintained and last longer.
The government agency that’s dedicated to energy efficiency says there are five elements that constitute a complete passive solar home design that generates solar heating: 1) the entry point of solar light (aperture); 2) their hard, dark surface of the storage element, (absorber); 3) the materials that retain/store the heat that the sunlight produces and distributes (thermal mass); 4) how solar heat circulates from the collection and storage points into areas of your house (distribution); 5) and elements to shade the aperture area during summer months, like roof overhangs (control). The control ensures that the house will be comfortable in the summer months.
Passive solar design can have total reliance on solar power, or partial use that will produce solar heat and it will depend solely on the geographical location and design. Other things that will play a key role in the passive solar design will be wind patterns, vegetation, topography, and even the amount of sunshine in the area, plus the performance of the building.
New construction can easily be designed with the passive solar design in mind. Even existing buildings can be retrofitted to meet the qualifications stated above.
It goes without saying that the solar heating systems will help the environment and will also provide savings to those who invest in the systems. The savings will be obvious as the electric company statements decrease with their use. Possibly in time even you can resell some of your power to the electric company that will be added benefits to the homeowner or business.
The U.S. Department of Energy publishes estimates to show exactly what we can expect when we invest in solar heating and how the systems impact the environment so we no longer depend on fossil fuel and conventional electricity.
SolarGEM specializes in Orange County solar power, solar Orange County, and Orange County solar energy.
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