Solar energy, one of the trendy eco-friendly energy sources available, is making major inroads into the HVAC industry. You can now use it to provide new heating alternatives for homes and other buildings. Pairing solar heating systems with conventional systems can help you reduce your energy bills significantly. Read on to learn about the solar heating optionsavailable today.
Room Air Heaters
Room air heaters come with a black metal plate that absorbs solar heat, which then heats an air collector. The collector can be installed on a south-facing wall or roof. A fan or blower draws air from your room through this collector and then blows the heated air back into the room. You can use a room air heater to heat more than one room.
Transpired Solar Air Collectors
These systems have dark, perforated, heat-conducting material installed over a south-facing wall. The sun-warmed perforations heat the air that the fan pushes through them and into the building. Transpired systems are best suited for large buildings that have high ventilation loads.
Liquid Solar Collectors
Liquid-based solar collectors use antifreeze, water, or other types of liquid to absorb solar energy. At an appropriate time, a controller activates the circulating pump to move the liquid through the collector. The heated fluid flows to a storage tank for later use or to a heat exchanger for instant use.
Common types of liquid solar collectors include:
Flat-plate collectors
Evacuated tube collectors
Concentrating solar systems
Radiant Floor
Solar heat can be distributed using a radiant floor system. The system comprises a network of tubes embedded in a concrete slab floor. A solar-heated liquid flows through the pipes and radiates heat to your room. A standard water heater or conventional boiler can provide backup heat for the fluid.
While solar systems can help you reduce your HVAC bills, their efficiency will be dependent on how your contractor designs and installs them. For more information on solar heating, contact us at Air Assurance. We've provided heating and cooling services to Broken Arrow residents since 1985.