2006-09-01 05:31:55 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
Do you have a south facing roof slope? that will help.
Are you in a conservation area? that may be an impediment but needn't kill it.
You can get a grant for 1/3 of the cost.
If you are NOT on the gas mains you should do it right now, today, and buy the biggest solar water heater you can find. If you ARE on the gas mains, it should still be worth the effort.
Are you in high latitudes? that needn't be a problem; just do your sums right.
is your current boiler a combi (direct) or traditional (indirect)? If indirect, that makes it a bit easier.
By the way, some answerers here are interpretting your question as one about solar photovoltaics (electricity). I'm assuming you mean passive solar water heating (hot water). If you're talking about PV, then yes the payback takes a heck of a long time. If hot water, you're in much better territory. You will need a hot water tank with a "solar coil" in it - there's a crowd in Glenrothes who make them; I forget the name - google it.
2006-09-01 05:36:29 · answer #1 · answered by wild_eep 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is your house a greenhouse? If it is not then you will find it very difficult to heat a house with solar power. It may be possible to provide lighting from solar power alone, and maybe some background heating for a water tank to keep it at a certain temperature.
I would not pin any hopes on using solar power for heating just yet. (maybe the technology will improve, and maybe you have a very large south facing roof).
I have tested this theory with a leisure battery, and a solar panel which generates 15 - 20 W in good strong sunshine. Cost about £200 for the battery and the solar panel.
2006-09-01 12:50:14 · answer #2 · answered by James 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
solar heating is not so easy, and expensive
a good solution however, and one that works very well, is solar (pre-)heating of your domestic hot water. Hot water is typically about one third of the total bill hot water plus heating, so saving on this is well worth it.
plus it does not require much, typically 60 sq.ft. of panels are enough to cover 60 percent of the needs for a family of 4, even in cold-ish climates with only about 1700 hours of sunshine a year.
on your roof you put up a couple panels, in those panels there are thin pipes where a fluid circulates, then a big pipe goes down to where your water heating system is.
often you'll need to replace your water heater with one that is solar compatible.
a complete installation costs a few thousand dollars, some states offer subsidies / tax breaks, and the payback period can be as short as 10 years, depending on oil prices (assuming you heat your water with oil).
hope this helps
a
2006-09-01 12:46:38 · answer #3 · answered by AntoineBachmann 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are about 30 years of age solar panels will reduce your energy costs by the time you reach retiring age. The pay back on investing in solar panels is prohibitive. There are other better saving energy measures you can take with very reasonable pay backs
2006-09-01 12:47:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends where you live. You need unobstucted view of the sun, and mostly sunny days. Wind is a good answer, too.
2006-09-01 12:37:14 · answer #5 · answered by F T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes - anything that saves on power bills which continue to rise almost daily.
2006-09-04 06:25:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
solar panels are great if you are with the recycling thing
2006-09-01 12:34:37 · answer #7 · answered by chazrolo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
great idea.
the only drawback is that it takes around 25 years (here in the UK) before they pay for themselves.
2006-09-01 12:38:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
INDEED!
2006-09-05 10:34:38 · answer #9 · answered by Goobean 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋