SOLAR PANEL HEATING

The trend of harnessing the sun’s energy for our own use is growing and many people are finding that solar panel heating is an effective and efficient way to heat the air and the water in their home.  Using rooftop solar collectors or collectors in your yard or pool is necessary in utilizing the sun for heat.

Essentially, solar panel heating is used to supplement the heat to your home, to heat a pool or to heat the water in your home and will often pay for itself in a few years or less.

The energy from the sun is available to nearly every location around the globe but is dependant on weather conditions and exposure. 

On the average though, there are approximately 1,000 watts per square meter of the earth’s surface that receives the sun’s rays. 

Solar panel heating results by harnessing that energy with solar collectors that are properly positioned.

There are three basic kinds of solar collectors available for the average home to use as solar panel heating devices. 

The first type of collector is the flat plate collector; this is also the most common.  This type of device is used in homes to heat water as well as space heating.  It uses an insulated metal box and a plastic or glass cover with a dark plate that will absorb the sun’s rays.  It can heat air or water to temperatures below 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

The second type of collector that can be used for solar panel heating is the liquid flat plate collector.  This device works by heating liquid that flows through tubes connected to the absorber plate. 

The heated water then flows back into the home or building.  Many solar pool heaters use this type of heating.

Finally, the last kind, as well as the least efficient collector used for solar panel heating is the air flat plate collector.  This type of collector uses metal sheets or layers of screen for the absorber plates.  The air passes through the absorber with the use of natural convection of a fan.  Since air conducts less heat than a liquid does this method is a less effective type of solar panel heating.

The next step in using solar power for heating after you have chose the type of collector you want to use is the positioning.  Solar collectors can be placed on the roof; however, they must also face the sun and be fairly unobstructed. 

If your home is shaded by trees you may need to place your collectors elsewhere.  If you are in the northern hemisphere you will want a collector on the south facing portion of your roof and the opposite for the southern hemisphere. 

Utilizing solar panel heating for space and water heat can help maintain sustainable housing and reduce high heating costs.  Investing in solar power for the home is one of the best ways to begin.  The investment to savings ration is often one of the highest moves in sustainable living choices.