Thinking Green With Solar Heating Systems
Considering your options of integrating a solar heating system into your home is undoubtedly a big step towards lowering your home heating bills as well as adopting a green attitude on reducing petroleum dependence. There are two basic types of solar heating: water, and space. Hot water heating systems are the most common types used in both homes and business and can substantially reduce the need for the typical gas and electric water heating systems.
Solar space heating is also quite popular as a primary home heating solution and can be easily integrated into the existing heating system to reduce the overall need for non-renewable electrical and petroleum heating. Solar heating panels are readily available and can last a long time if maintained properly. Solar heating comes in two distinct subsystem styles: Passive and Active. These heating systems are commonly used in home, business and industrial situations to heat water for swimming pools, bathing and other domestic needs, as well as provide under floor heating for rooms, or energy input for other heating systems. An active heating system, also called a pumped system is connected to an auxiliary system that is triggered when the water temperature drops below a pre-determined minimum. The auxiliary system can also be part of a “Green” or renewable system that further reduces the need for fossil fuels.
A passive solar heating system is a compact heating solution that is always on and can configured to operate in many different ways: as an input energy source for an auxiliary or pumping system, or simply as a secondary heating solution to reinforce the primary heating of a home or business. In most climates, solar heating can provide as much as 85% of a home's hot water energy, substantially lowering conventional heating costs while also increasing the efficiency of heating and reducing dependence of other energy sources. This has led to passive solar heating becoming a popular choice among house owners.
Solar heating is becoming more and more popular among those seeking to reduce their carbon footprint by eliminating their need for conventional fossil fuels, and non-renewable electrical energy. While it is understood that the initial cost of deploying a solar heating system in your home or business is higher than conventional heating systems, this investment is returned with the overall reduction of the use of petroleum and power grid electricity, and in the increased value of the home or business using such a heating system.
Many forward thinking construction companies and homeowners are making the switch from yesterdays heating methods to the “Green” solution of Solar heating systems. As others become aware of the personal and environmental values these solar solutions provide these concepts will soon become a standard for all new home and business construction.
