Solar Thermal

Many specialists are devising alternate ways to provide energy, with the rise in energy and electricity-related concerns these days. One of these alternate ways would be solar thermal energy.

If you can find a way to get free heating, you can potentially slash your utility bill drastically. One way you can achieve this is by going with passive solar heating. 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. The next few paragraphs deal with thermal mass, an integral part of passive solar heating.

Thermal mass simply refers to any material that absorbs and stores heat. When relating to passive solar heating, thermal mass would be any material that attracts the sunlight and is able to store it and dispense it when the sun has set or during the winter. 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 for these everyday examples, the amount of heat stored and attracted isn't much.

There is such a thing as a passive solar home, which contains materials known as intentional thermal mass, and is specifically set up to absorb and release heat when needed. This is another concept that is deceptively simple. Everyday building materials like bricks, tiles and masonry can serve as strategic thermal mass. Adobe and clay materials also function well in certain situations.

In all solar thermal powered homes, the thermal mass needs to be located in the interior. You are sure to have windows that attract a lot of sun - try placing some bricks or tiles underneath them. Depending on your heating needs, the amount of thermal mass you use will vary. 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. There are plenty of solar thermal home owners who buy their thermal materials in dark colors, so as to absorb more heat. This does not apply, though, with passive solar heating. It is the material, not the color, that makes the difference. Bricks can be just about any light color, but not white. This could play a large part in beautifying your house's interior and avoiding a gloomy, sullen look to it.

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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