Solar heating utilizes the thermal energy provided by the sun to heat the air and water in residential and commercial buildings and pools. Solar heating systems are designed to save energy costs and reduce the use of fossil fuels. Solar is a clean form of energy that reduces pollution. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, solar heating technology has advanced so that by 2010, the materials have become more durable, cost-effective and reliable.
History
Humans began harnessing the sun for energy as early as the 7th century B.C., when magnifying glasses were used to start fires. A French scientist designed the first solar collector panel in the early 1900s to drive a steam engine. American astrophysicist Charles Greeley Abbott invented the first solar-heated boiler in 1936. Solar water heating remained popular in the warmer climates in the southern United States well into the 1950s, when natural gas became cheaper and more available. A resurgence of interest in solar energy took place during the oil crisis in the 1970s and continues as part of the environmental "green" movement.
Basics
All solar heaters use collectors, which are tubes and panels that absorb sunlight, turn it into heat and keep it trapped. Collectors are attached to storage units that heat either air or water. Sophisticated valves, temperature gauges, pumps and microprocessors then deliver the heated air or water to its destination in the building. Solar-heated pools typically don't require a storage unit, but can deliver the ambient radiant heat directly to the water.
Features
Active solar heating units collect the heated air or water and use pumps to send it either to a storage unit or directly into the building space or water heater. Passive solar heating units use collectors, but rely on the sloping shapes and designs of the house or commercial building to distribute the energy throughout the structure, instead of using pumps.
Effects
According to The National Energy Education Development Project, or Need Project, solar heat is a pollution-free, widely available and free natural source of energy. The Need Project was developed to provide education to the public and build energy consciousness. The panels and tubes needed to harness solar heat, however, are costly and use resources like fossil fuels in the manufacturing process. Large solar thermal farms, which house solar thermal plants to provide energy to municipalities, can damage ecosystems when they aren't managed properly. Residential units can easily malfunction and lose their effectiveness if not installed and maintained correctly. When done right, however, solar energy can be cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
Considerations
The initial cost of purchasing and installing solar heating units usually is higher than traditional heating sources, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Savings are accumulated with use as the cost of heating air and water is greatly reduced. Additionally, solar heating units are designed to complement existing heating sources. Most solar heating units require backup from a traditional or wood-fired heating unit when the storage energy is depleted, and there is not sufficient sunlight to restore the reserves.
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