Active Solar Hydronic Heating Can Reduce Energy Use
There is a lot being done these days to reduce the costs of home heating as well as reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Using energy from the sun is becoming the focus in many areas of living from solar panels to provide electricity to active solar hydronic heating systems to provide hot water are indications that people want to conserve resources as well as their money. Consider making a jar of sun tea by leaving a glass jar of water with tea bags dipped in it sitting in the sun for a couple of hours and you can have some idea of how active solar hydronic heating works.
Many of these systems use liquids in addition to water to provide heat such as glycol, antifreeze and use the heated liquid to provide heat. The liquid in an active solar hydronic heating system is contained in a collector which heated by the sun's energy during the day and the heated liquid is stored in containers during the night. The heated water produced is circulated through the home to help provide heat, usually in a hybrid system that has an additional heating source.
While the active solar hydronic heating may not provide all of the heat used in a home, it should be able to provide between 60 and 80 percent of the needed warmth. At a level of 40 percent, the return on the investment become minimal.
Solar Placement Is Key To System's Efficiency
Studies have show that the glass or panels used in an active solar hydronic heating system should face true south to be exposed to the sun for the most hours during the day. This is different than magnetic south and the efficiency will depend on the area around which the panels are placed. Unless the area in which the panels are placed would be shaded by trees or other obstructions, they calculate their positioning to be 20 degrees above the latitude at which the property sits.
Water in active solar hydronic heating collectors will usually be between 90 and 120 degrees, depending on the intensity of the sun's exposure and the amount of time it is out. It will cool slightly as it travels through the pipes and into the home and while a smaller collector may heat the water faster, it will also cause the water to move through the system faster, allowing more heat to be lost through the water's travels.
