If you are thinking of buying a solar heating system or just want more information about this green technology, get your questions answered now. Simply, solar heating is a renewable heating technology used to heat or condition air or water for buildings or industrial process heat applications.
Space heating - homes, greenhouses and other structures with radiant heat;
Solar cooking - cook food using solar energy.
Solar energy converts to electricity:
Photovoltaic cells (PV) - converts solar energy directly into DC electricity;
Concentrated solar power - a solar collector that reflects concentrated solar energy toward a target area and converted to heat or into electricity with a photovoltaic cell at a commercial scale.
Your Questions Answered
So let's get started now. After all you have a lot of questions about solar heating.
Will Solar Heating Work Where I Live?
Regardless of where you live, the supply of free energy from sunshine is adequate! The amount of solar heated water or air produced depends largely upon location, season and climate. The amount of sunshine available for heating depends on several factors:
Amount of solar energy reaching your solar panels, shading;
How much hot water you use;
System efficiency.
You are likely to produce 50% to 80% of your heating needs. In areas with lower solar potential, larger solar panels are required.
Yes, you can have cheap solar power and save energy. First things first... take some simple energy conservation measures to reduce your energy use and save money. Energy conservation is by far the most cost effective strategy to lower your heating bill.
Will solar thermal heating lower my utility bill?
Sunshine makes free energy! The initial cost of a solar heating system is high. To reduce those initial costs take advantage of solar financing for solar tax credit, incentive rebates and loans. These incentives dramatically reduce your cost to save money and save energy.
The savings on your utility bill depend on several factors:
Amount of solar energy reaching your solar panels;
Your demand for solar heating;
Your home or buildings efficiency and solar heating system efficiency;
Terms of financing and incentives;
The cost of electricity or natural gas fuels.
Accept this … Energy from the Sun is FREE ENERGY... On average, if you install a solar water heater, your water heating bills should drop 50–80%. You can save money and save energy.
Use the Economic Analysis tool to figure how much you heating bill will drop. It's really easy to use.
Now consider this… electricity and natural gas continue to increase in price annually. The Energy Information Administration has determined the increase averages 3% per year.
You can reduce your risk from future price hikes and shortages. Solar energy from the Sun is unlimited, and it’s absolutely free energy. No utility can bill you!
What about the environmental benefits?
Solar hot water has positive benefits to the environment. Even if you don’t consider yourself an ‘environmentalist’ you likely support environmental benefits and sustainability energy.
During a 20-year period, one solar heater can avoid more than 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Now, 50 tons may not seem like a lot of carbon dioxide. Think about this… when you install solar heating you are doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint.
Solar thermal heating drives energy conservation with positive benefits to the environment. You already know that saving energy helps the environment.
The U.S. Federal solar tax credit gives you 30% of the cost of a solar water heater. No price cap of $2,000 anymore – Congress changed the law, with no upper limit through 2016 (for existing homes & new construction). It's so easy I could do it.
And that’s not all… Learn the facts about solar energy tax credits, incentives and rebates. Go to the DSIRE - Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy. You will learn about financing and incentives from your state and utilities in your area.
One thing’s for sure… the availability of solar rebates cut the cost of solar energy and adds to your ability to install a solar heating system.
Many home builder or mortgage company have low interest energy efficient loans available when incorporating energy efficient water heater or other energy efficiency products built into a new or remodeled home. More h builders and others have recognized the demand for green living.
During the 1970s when solar hot water became popular critics object to their appearance.
Today solar panels have the appearance of ‘skylight’, following the slope of your roof. No more large panels protrude from the natural slope of your roof.
Mounting collectors on the ground is common today. With that said, the location of a solar collector needs the maximum about of solar energy striking the collector as possible.
Get ready to explore more about solar hot water. You won't be disappointed!
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Green Living with Solar Heating Go green living: Get the energy conservation, energy efficiency and sustainable energy solutions you need.
Energy Conservation First... Be an Energy Miser Start with energy conservation - become an energy miser! . ... save money save energy — conserve and use less hot water, turn down the thermostat and insulate.
Carbon Credits For Solar Heating Advances in solar heating kindle carbon markets opportunities to create carbon credits that curbs global warming and can accelerate adoption of alternative energy and the green economy.
Home Solar Heating Home solar heating today is becoming more popular because unlimited free solar energy. Caputing solar heats can meet your hot water needs.
Solar Components for Solar Water Heat Several solar components make up a system for solar water heat: solar heating panels, solar storage tank, solar heat exchanger, and solar controls in some systems.
Solar Radiation Resource Site Evaluation Just how much solar radiation reaches your site? The performance of a solar water heater depends upon the amount of solar radiation that reaches the solar heating panels.
Solar Tax Credit Under the Energy Bill Solar Tax Credit can knock off 30% the cost of a solar heating system - solar hot water just became more affordable and feasible