Solar Thermal
Given energy concerns these days, most homes are now designed to take advantage of passive solar heating concepts. Solar thermal is a big part of this process.
You can really save a lot on your electricity bills if you could somehow get some heating free of charge. Passive solar heating is the methodology used to achieve this goal. It is a process wherein a home is built or upgraded in such a way as to catch and contain as much of the sunlight in the form of heat as possible. Solar thermal involves the concept of thermal mass, which we shall discuss in depth.
Thermal mass simply refers to any material that absorbs and stores heat. Thermal mass, when talking about solar thermal, would be materials that are good in attracting the sun’s rays, and even better at storing this heat and dispersing it when the sun is not around. You may not realize it, but your home already has thermal mass producing heat. Even basic items like furniture, or your living room floor could act as thermal mass once hit by the sun. But take note that these are common examples that don’t normally store much heat.
Passive solar homes, or homes that use solar thermal power, have strategically placed materials acting as thermal mass, and are able to gather and release significant amounts of heat. It may sound like a tall order but it really isn’t. The materials include items such as bricks, tile and masonry. Adobe and clay materials also function well in certain situations.
In a passive solar home, you need the thermal mass in the interior of the home. You are sure to have windows that attract a lot of sun – try placing some bricks or tiles underneath them. The amount of thermal mass to be used depends on where you live. In colder climates, it should be used in bulk while homes in Arizona need only nominal amounts.
The color that the thermal materials should come in is sometimes a point of contention. Logically, it would seem to make sense that the materials need to be dark since dark colors absorb more heat. This is not particularly true in passive solar. It is the material, not the color, that makes the difference. Bricks can be just about any light color, but not white. This may sound insignificant, but it can be a major benefit if you want to avoid a dark, gloomy interior in your home.
If you are trying to harness the power of the sun for heating purposes, you need to get a good grasp of the thermal products you will use. This should give you a head start.
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