Solar Home Heating: Concepts and Methods

Solar home heating systems are gaining popularity nowadays despite its high initial investment. These systems basically utilize solar radiation to provide space heating. This means that power from electrical equipment for heating space is eliminated. There are two general systems of solar space heating based on how heat is captured. These are the passive and active solar heating system.

Passive solar heating. This system requires no equipment to capture solar radiation. Its concept is similar to heat building up inside your car when it is left parked under the sun. Heat naturally accumulates inside the space. In this design, windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer. It does not use mechanical and electrical devices. Passive solar buildings aim to maintain interior thermal comfort throughout the sun’s daily and annual cycles while reducing the requirement for active heating system.

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