How can I capture solar heat in this ridiculous situation?

Question

The entire south-west facing wall of my house does not have a single window in it. It gets the sun all day virtually every day of the year. I would love to get my hands on the architect!
Without too much in the way of structural alterations how can I harvest the power of the sun for heating purposes?

It really annoys me in the winter especially when I see the whole end wall bathed in sunlight but have no way of harnessing that power that should be available when it's most needed.

Answer 1

Hello,

(ANS) The most obvious option would be solar cells for either converting the solar energy into electricity (i.e. solarvotaic cells) these cells can be VERY thin & lightweight so you woudnt need to worry about the weight factor. And they work best when you have a relatively large surface area too. This option could either be stored for slow release purposes such as storage heaters which cuts your heating bills overall or stored into a large battery for other uses, or could even be put back into the national grid (but this last idea isnt very realistic unless you have a large excess capacity though).

Or you can have actual solar panels which consist of a series of small pipes that zigg zagg back and forth into something that looks abit like a panel radiator. These are usually painted black so as to absorb the suns energy (both its light & heat). These would be slightly bigger & have more weight (but still NOT much I think?) Solar hot water panels will also reduce your heating bills by providing hotter water by a few degree's each day. In the longer summer months you get alot of VERY hot water but less so at other times of the year.

But even on a cloudy day these panels will still increase the hot water temperature. You would save money on heating the remaining hot water (these solar panels suppliment your hot water NOT replace).

**There are many many companies offering this kind of solar technology across the UK and I'm confident a quick internet search would give you all the details you need.

Try searching yahoo or google on key words such as solarvoltiac cells or solar panels or solar panel technologies?

Best Regards IR

Answer 2

You do not harness the heat; it's the light. Get a solar panel (not from Rodney Blackstock on Emmerdale) and you will have a heat exchanger fitted to convert the light to heat. I don't know how much YOU might save but it would probably be more than here in Manchester North West England.

Answer 3

for heating purposes?

I would hang solar panels on that wall and run the power through your house to reduce your energy costs. Or run thin copper tubing filled with water along the side of your house and use it for a hot water heater. it is even possible to put in a numerous layers that curve all around the wall, and run the tubing in under your floor boards and use the heat to heat your floor.

of course that depends on your neighborhood, your homeowners association.

if you want heat, then just paid the wall completely black, the black will cause the wall to heat up.

Answer 4

First come to a determination what you pick to attain. Is it (a) to save money or (b) to save the planet? If it particularly is (a) in Britain, you could frequently forget approximately approximately it. The exception could be for swimmimng swimming pools because of the fact the warmth is needed interior the summertime whilst the equipment is maximum effectual. If it particularly is (b), then you've 2 ordinary structures to think approximately. the simplest (and maximum inexpensive) technologies includes water filled creditors that in simple terms warmth up by skill of distinctive function of the radiant effect of the sunlight. the nice and snug water may well be used to warmth your warm water. whether it is integrated with a everyday heating equipment, you could take precautions to keep away from the collector starting to be to be a extensive radiator in iciness and subsequently dropping warmth massive time! whether, you need to look at photovoltaic (PV) structures that generate electricity. those fee very severe money and you at the instant are not susceptible to generate sufficient electricity for all your desires so it does no longer replace your mains connection, in basic terms decrease your dependence. regrettably, in this united states of america, electricity businesses at the instant are not compelled to purchase electricity from the likes of you and me on the fee they sell it as in some extra enlightened international locations, so the economics at the instant are not encouraging. the two those structures artwork optimally with a extensive expanse of south dealing with roof to attach them to, nevertheless they are going to artwork on different orientations, if much less effectively. materials are available in by skill of skill of the Low Carbon residences programme yet they only conceal a small proportion of the fee. little need for DIY nevertheless as you need to use authorized installers.

Answer 5

Create Home Solar Power : http://SolarPower.siopu.com/?ggL

Answer 6

Sorry I cant give you a better address, but, try Builditsolar, it's a site, as the name suggests, on building solar projects.
Hope it helps.

Answer 7

Solar air collectors your best bet.Check the internet