Active solar heating systems here in New England are generally capable of producing anywhere from 40 to 95 percent of a home's yearly heating needs. However, because of our geographical location and wide variance in weather and temperatures, any solar heating solution whether it be active or passive, must be backed up by a conventional heating system such as a furnace.

The reason for this is that we experience and average twelve to fifteen “degree days” each heating season that are so cold or so cloudy that the solar collectors and tubes cannot keep up with the heating demand.

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There are two main types of active systems, Flat panel collector and Evacuated glass tube. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages and vary both in price and efficiencies. We recommend that you look at both systems when considering solar to determine which is the best fit for your home and budget.

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Solar collectors (either the flat panel or the evacuated glass tube type) are usually mounted in rows on the south side of a home's roof, on the roof of a shed or out-building and on the ground on racks. 

Liquid, usually a solution of water and anti-freeze is pumped up to the roof from a storage location below. With the flat plate type panels the liquid is pumped up and across the panels and it absorbs the heat gathered by the collector. Then is distributed to the heating  system for use or to tanks for storage.

With the glass tube type panels, the sun heats air sealed within the tubes and transfers that heat to a metal tip at the end of the tube. Those metal tips are plugged in to a pipe called a “manifold” that has the same liquid flowing through it as in the other system. The tips transfer the heat produced by the tubes to the liquid and the liquid is distributed for use or storage.

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What types Of heating systems will Solar Heating work With?

Solar heating will work with all three main types of heating systems; Radiant in-floor heat, Forced hot air, and Hot water baseboard.

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You'll be pleased to learn that the price of solar technology has dramatically dropped in recent years. Also, tax incentives and cash rebates from both the state and federal governments generally now cover the entire cost for the average system installed in New England. That makes now the time to “Go Solar and Save”.

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