SOLAR HEATING AND HEATERS
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HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE SUN TO PROVIDE HEAT A solar heating (SH)system saves energy, produces clean energy, and reduces utility costs. Reducing the consumption of fossil fuels is a primary target for everyone. Using the power of the sun via SH is a viable alternative to traditional heating methods. Solar energy and the use of solar panels are in use as solar water heaters (SWH), solar pool heating, solar space heating, and even for solar cooling.  Solar water heating systems have increased in reliability and efficiency. They are now viable options for your home or business use. Research and development in solar technology is still ongoing to make these systems even more accessible to the average consumer. This helps reduce your utility bills and eliminate the use of environmentally hazardous fossil fuels. Solar water heaters and solar space heating use solar collectors to collect the sun’s energy. The heat from this collection is then transferred directly to a building, water, or pool. Solar water heating is one of the most cost-effective ways to use this renewable energy source. Typically a residential solar water heating system reduces the need for conventional heating by about two thirds. ACTIVE AND PASSIVE WATER SOLAR HEATING Active solar water heaters use pumps, and controllers to circulate water or other heat-transfer fluids through solar collectors. Passive solar water heating relies on gravity and water’s natural tendency to circulate as it is heated. Passive systems contain no electrical components and are generally more reliable and easier to maintain. ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SPACE SOLAR HEATING  Passive solar space heating uses warmth from the sun via design features, such as large south-facing windows, and materials on the floors and wall to absorb warmth during the day and release at night when the heat is needed the most. Active solar space heating systems use collectors to collect and absorb solar radiation. Fans or pumps transfer that solar heat to the necessary locations. Energy storage systems are also included to provide heat when the sun is not shining. The basic types of active solar space heating systems use either liquid or air to collect and transfer the solar radiation. Solar energy is also used for space cooling. Thermally activated cooling systems powered by solar energy can provide year-round utilization of collected solar heat. In general these systems are sized to provide thirty to sixty percent of total building cooling requirements. |
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