Solar Homes | Heating System for Your House Using the Sun

Heating your home with a solar heating system rather than the conventional means (oil, propane, natural gas etc.) can save you many dollars on your fuel bills each year. Such solar systems have only come onto the market in recent years, but with most states offering sizable rebates and tax allowances for people installing renewable energy systems in their homes, it is an option well worth considering. One such system is known as the solarwall fresh air heating system.

The solarwall system is essentially a solar panel (also known as a solar air collector), but of different construction than the panels used for water heating. In the case of air heating the panels are constructed of, at the rear, a large metal plate painted black on the side facing the Sun and well insulated on its exterior. The front side facing the Sun is typically covered by a large glass plate of the same dimensions, thus creating a greenhouse effect between the two. A typical 6-panel unit measures 8 feet high by 15 feet wide and is mounted either on the side of the building facing the Sun or on the roof;  likewise facing the Sun. Air is drawn into the collector through thin slits at the bottom of the unit. The tops of the panels are connected together and a small fan pulls air out of the system and blows it into the building. Such plates can raise the temperature of air by as much as 50º C as it passes through the panels.

A much more expensive version uses a liquid in the panels. This is heated by direct radiant heat from the Sun and pumped to a heat exchanger where it passes its energy to the circulated air of the building. Air panels are not as efficient as liquid panels, but are much less prone to problems such as leaks. Air collectors can be planned to be an integral part of new buildings where, rather than being attached to a wall as an addition, they can be designed to be an integral part of a Sun facing wall or roof.

A somewhat similar collection is called the transpired air collector. Dark perforated metal plated are installed directly over a building's south facing walls and sealed around the edges. By means of fans, air is drawn through the holes in the metal plates and the air between the plates and the wall is heated up and pumped into the building. This method is more suitable for larger buildings and can raise the air temperature by as much as 40ºF.