Do Not Display
Given Broken Arrow's hot, sunny summers, solar power and HVAC are a natural pairing for keeping cool in our area. While air conditioners powered by solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are the most common now, the future holds much more.
Cooling From the Sun
The solar market has grown steadily over the past decade, driven by homeowners' desire for lower energy bills and interest in sustainable living, as well as by federal tax credits for new solar PV systems, which produce electricity that can power most brands of air conditioners, heat pumps, and other HVAC equipment. It's possible to power your existing AC or heat pump with solar, but this route works best with high-efficiency systems. As systems that are more energy efficient enter the market, combining solar power and HVAC becomes increasingly practical.
Hybrid systems, which rely primarily on solar DC electricity and use AC grid electricity when necessary, offer another option. Thermal air conditioners combine solar power and HVAC in yet another way: Instead of using electricity converted from the sun's energy, they use the sun's energy directly to heat water. The hot water boils a solution containing refrigerant. When the refrigerant gas is recombined with the solution, its temperature is lower and can be used for cooling. These systems tend to work best in dry climates, but advances in technology may make them more practical for our area.
Warmth in Winter
Radiant-floor heating systems are another part of the future of solar-powered HVAC systems. The efficiency of underfloor heating makes it ideal for use with solar energy. You can use solar PV panels to convert the sun's energy to electricity to power your electric underfloor heating system or use a solar thermal store cylinder combined with a boiler for a hydronic (water) system. Solar-evacuated tubes, a relatively new technology, make hydronic systems even more efficient, particularly on cold, cloudy days.
If you're looking for new ways to combine solar power and HVAC in your Broken Arrow home, contact us at Air Assurance.