Sos Roofline Systems

Posts Tagged ‘Using Solar Power’

Although sitting around a camp fire is a nice way to spend a summer evening, we are thankfully past the age when we routinely used those fires for our daily heating requirements. Modern homes rely on thermostatically-controlled heating arrangements with load-leveling abilities and air filtration systems. Do you ever wonder, though, if one could find options besides the universally available HVAC apparatus that depends on your local power company? We aren’t saying that there is a moral issue with installing an electric heater in a normal home, it’s merely that technology offers other heating options, and a few of them might accommodate your conditions better. Don’t forget to look at the Waste Oil Furnace.

If you truly wish to maintain your electric heat, though not necessarily the resulting electric expenses, solar heating might be a good idea for your living quarters. A competent electrician should be able to wire a series of solar cells into your present electrical wiring, therefore helping your heater to work using solar power. You may additionally use the option of switching between solar and electrical power when required. This option will still significantly cut down on your utility costs while still providing uninterrupted power for the central appliance in any home. If you aren’t happy with the thought of your dad’s Subaru- sized solar panels hanging from your roof deck, think about investing in solar shingles – smaller solar cells which mimic composite roof shingles. If the idea of taking advantage of solar energy sounds intriguing, there is likely a system able to work for your home. A nice comparable model to check out is the Waste Oil Furnace.

Wood-burning heaters have become popular all over again, and they are considerably more energy-efficient than campfires in a cave. Modern wood or wood-pellet burning stoves can produce an enormous amount of heat from very little fuel. Locating a steady supply of fuel might require some forethought, as will thinking about how to store it. Also, wood stoves require substantially more planning and maintenance than is usually required in electrical or gas powered devices. Many people decide that the added time and chores is very much worth every minute, though. Wood smoke comes with a invigorating aroma, your rooms will feel warm, and you could find comfort in knowing that you will be employing the original renewable fuel.

Gas Heaters may be found for employing either natural gas or liquid propane (LP) fuel. For people who enjoy natural gas pipelines in their area, it is worth attempting to get plugged in to one, especially since a growing number of appliances are now available in gas-powered in addition to electric models. If that pipeline isn’t local, it may still be a smart idea to connect an LP tank near your living quarters. You can benefit from having fuel ready for heating your home or possibly your dinner, even during a blackout. Many gas appliances, like heaters, will be slightly more pricey to finance than a corresponding electrical model, but the difference in your utility bill can definitely make up for the bigger purchase price.

If you are happy with your present heating system, fantastic. If, on the other hand, you’d like to make some improvements, or you would be interested in an alternative fuel source, it might be time to join the evolution!

One of the more popular uses of solar power in the home is the solar attic fan.

As its name implies, a solar attic fan is powered and activated by sunlight. It is installed into the roof of the attic, with its panels facing the sky.

Why would one need a solar-powered attic fan?

Well, first of all, what is the purpose of an attic fan?

Since heat rises, all of the heat in a home tends to rise up into the attic. If this heat has no easy outlet, it will simply get stuck up there. This causes the over-heating. When combined with a lack of proper ventilation, this leads to dampness, mildew, and the the like.

Furthermore, when the accumulated attic heat is not allowed to escape, the temperature of the entire home rises.

While there are some circumstances under which you want to warm up your home, there are other circumstances under which you would prefer to cool it down. A lack of sufficient ventilation in a hot attic can make matters difficult. Thus, an attic fan can play an important role in allowing you to control the temperature of your home.

Okay, now that we understand what the purpose of this fan is, why would we want it to be solar-powered?

The first answer is obvious – to use cleaner energy and to avoid using fuels which damage the environment.

By using solar power for the fan, we can also save a bit of money on electricity.

But a more pragmatic reason for using a solar powered fan is the simple fact that it is basically “wireless.” You won’t have to worry about installing electrical wires and cables into your attic, in order to run your fan.

Solar-powered fans are relatively simple to install into one’s attic. But if you aren’t an enthusiastic DIYer ready to climb onto your roof with a knife and a hammer, you will probably want to get someone else to do it.

When installing a solar-powered fan into the roof, one has to actually cut a hole into the roof and install the fan in that spot. It’s smart to install it on the south facing side, which will receive more sun (unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere, in which case you would obviously install it on the north side). There is a certain degree of skill involved, as is normally the case when one considers the prospect of climbing up on the roof, removing shingles and roofing material, and cutting a hole through to the other side without damaging any rafters.

But overall the process does not take a long time, for someone who knows what they’re doing. The installation of the fan should be well worth the trouble in the long run, particularly if you live in a hot climate. It will run at virtually no running cost, while reducing the overall level of heat in your home. That reduces the costs involved with cooling your house (using less energy-efficient methods, such as air conditioning).

So, even if you don’t give a hoot about the environment, a solar attic fan might be a very worthwhile investment. Providing you do have an attic.

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Visit Anna Williams’ website to find out more about Residential Solar Power, DIY Solar Power, and where you can find a The Solar Attic Fan and How it Works.