Solar Space Heater Idea

dh1 · 10-16-11, 11:11 AM

This is a picture of the front of my house and I thought I would start a thread on how and where to put solar collector panels.
The house faces south, is almost always in the sun, only on the shortest days in the year it has a bit of shading from trees in the morning.
The entire front of the house is an addition that was added on shortly after the house was built. The room above with the windows in it (sun-room) can be blocked off and is not heated by the furnace, it has baseboard electric heat.

I was thinking about putting some solar heating panels on the front wall somewhere to assist in space heating the house.

1> I thought of using the 2 large windows as solar panels, using the existing glass as the outside glazing and building the rest of the collector inside the house. Windows are 92"x50"

2> Build solar collectors on the outside wall just below the windows where the board and batten is, from 1 end to the other.

Would prefer to make a water heating system so that the heat could be stored and used at night time.

What do you guys think?

iamgeo · 10-16-11, 01:25 PM

Quote:

1> I thought of using the 2 large windows as solar panels, using the existing glass as the outside glazing and building the rest of the collector inside the house. Windows are 92"x50"

I really like this idea.

strider3700 · 10-16-11, 01:50 PM

#2 basically something like this but up off of the ground?

Do it! here's the build page for that project.

Large Horizontally Oriented Space Heating Collector with a Unique Heat Storage System

I would do it in a second if I could get away with it in the middle of town here.

Daox · 10-19-11, 11:56 AM

I prefer the rack option. I like my windows, but maybe its just me. It still looks like you have plenty of room under them to do quite a bit of solar.

10-16-11, 11:11 AM	#1
dh1 Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: May 2011 Location: Ont. Canada Posts: 99 Thanks: 14 Thanked 11 Times in 9 Posts	Solar Space Heater Idea This is a picture of the front of my house and I thought I would start a thread on how and where to put solar collector panels. The house faces south, is almost always in the sun, only on the shortest days in the year it has a bit of shading from trees in the morning. The entire front of the house is an addition that was added on shortly after the house was built. The room above with the windows in it (sun-room) can be blocked off and is not heated by the furnace, it has baseboard electric heat. I was thinking about putting some solar heating panels on the front wall somewhere to assist in space heating the house. 1> I thought of using the 2 large windows as solar panels, using the existing glass as the outside glazing and building the rest of the collector inside the house. Windows are 92"x50" 2> Build solar collectors on the outside wall just below the windows where the board and batten is, from 1 end to the other. Would prefer to make a water heating system so that the heat could be stored and used at night time. What do you guys think? Attached Thumbnails

10-19-11, 11:56 AM	#4
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I prefer the rack option. I like my windows, but maybe its just me. It still looks like you have plenty of room under them to do quite a bit of solar. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-16-11, 01:50 PM	#3
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	#2 basically something like this but up off of the ground? Do it! here's the build page for that project. Large Horizontally Oriented Space Heating Collector with a Unique Heat Storage System I would do it in a second if I could get away with it in the middle of town here.