Solar thermal heating is an innovative hybrid of technologies that combines the power of the sun and converts it into usable energy in the form of heat for everyday use.
Our energy sources of late have primarily revolved around solar and wind technologies however an option most people haven’t considered is solar thermal heating simply because they aren’t aware that it exists. Despite what consumers think, solar thermal heating has been used in conjunction with standard heating systems for years.
The premise behind solar thermal heating is a beautifully simple one, water is directly heated from the sun’s radiation and converted into usable heat to supply the hot water needs of a typical home, just as you would if you were to leave a bottle of water in the sun, the concept behind solar thermal heating and its application is no different.
Compared with photovoltaic cells and the time required to recoup financial investment for both materials and installation, solar thermal heating is 6 times more efficient energy wise providing up to 70% of your total hot water needs on a daily basis. With an average of 4 (kW) hours per meter squared of energy derived from sunlight falling onto the earth’s surface daily makes solar thermal heating the natural choice for your electricity needs especially when the heating of water is responsible for a quarter of your total household energy bills.
To function at its optimum the solar thermal heating collector must be positioned accordingly pointing in a southerly direction and be clear from tree cover to ensure maximum absorption of sunlight.
Installation of solar thermal heating collectors is different for each home as they will have different requirements. The installer will have detailed weather data determining the best position and angle the solar thermal heating collector should be placed at for the greatest efficiency.
There are currently 2 main types of solar thermal heating collectors on the market at present, these are evacuated tube collectors and flat plate collectors.
Evacuated tube collectors consist of parallel rows of glass tubes. When it comes to solar thermal heating, each of these utilize a partial vacuum that facilitates the transfer of heat. Evacuated tube collectors tend to be slightly more efficient but are also a little more pricey and are less aesthetically pleasing to the eye when it comes to their design.
Homeowners wish to take advantage of solar thermal heating technology however want something that will integrate with the existing look of their home. The Evacuated Tube collector also has a greater tendency to break and can be rendered ineffective during times of heavy snow cover.
Flat plate collectors represent the most popular choice when it comes to solar thermal heating as they can be integrated into an existing roof. These are created from transparent insulated panels and are less expensive than Evacuated tube collectors but are also slightly less efficient too.
The benefits of having solar thermal energy is that you can reduce your current energy bills by 25% or more compared with conventional water heating systems while reducing your carbon footprint with this simple, yet effective emission free energy source.
Reduce your electricity bills and your fossil fuel dependence by getting a solar thermal energy system today.
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