Heating your Home with Sunlight

Oil costs a fortune and goes up on pretty much a daily basis, oil currently costs over $145 per barrel (mid 2008), I find it very strange then that few people have decided to install solar power systems in their homes. This is mainly due to the initial outlay required when installing a solar power system. Using low temperature collectors can resolve this problem.

Most people have problems with solar systems because they cost a lot of money to install, while the sunlight itself may be free, the equipment required to collect it can be very expensive. At current price per Watt it might take 30 years before you have actually saved enough money to cover the cost of your panels. Only families who are very environmentally friendly are willing to make a 30 year investment, especially when technology is improving at such a fast rate.

Another option is a Low Temperature transpiration solar air heater as these are much more affordable. It's possible to purchase one of these and install it in the very same day yourself, which make them ideal for a more affordable solution.

Let's assume that oil costs around $2.95 per gallon and will generate around 139,000BTU for that amount of oil. By the way a BTU is the amount of heat which it would take to increase the temperature of one pound of water within an hour. Most homes need around 80 million BTU's per winter. That means if you have an oil burning furnace you can expect to burn around 570 gallons of oil which is going to cost over $1,600. This means you need approximately 18,000 BTU per hour on average.

The sun can provide 450BTU per hour per square foot on average. If you assume that your solar system will be 50% efficient then you will be able to capture 225BTU per square foot per hour. The best option is to use your solar heater to heat the air slightly, and then use oil to get it up to the right temperature. Throughout most of the winter you may be able to survive on just solar power, however if you need it then you do have oil.

Transpiration Low Temperature Solar Collectors pull in air from outside then heat it as it enters your home. The collectors are a simple design; it's certainly not a high tech solution. By drawing in outside air it's also very good for your health as you get to breathe fresh air each and every day without having to go outside.

These transpiration collectors are very cheap because they are only designed to run at low temperature. They require little maintenance as they do not circulate water and do not have freezing problems.