Passive Solar Systems

Direct gain solar is by far the simplest method of capturing heat from the sun. By orienting your house to face the sun and having the majority of windows on the south side you'll be able to reduce your backup heat consumption. Having some additional mass to "soak up" the heat during a sunny day and release it at night will further reduce your heating costs. The major drawback of passive solar is lack of control in maintaining an even indoor temperature.

Active Solar Systems

Solar collectors are placed facing south at an angle that varies with your latitude. Our latitude in the Chippewa valley is approximately 45° N. To take full advantage of the winter sun angle, the panels are typically elevated to 60° from horizontal. The panels can heat air that is blown into the house or water that is circulated into the house. If you live in a climate with mild ambient air temperatures and modest heating degree days, hot air collectors may be suitable. Any alternative energy system should be designed to use what is available at a specific location. One size does not fit all. Our experience in the Chippewa Valley tells us that for whole house heating systems, hot water is a better way to go for the following reasons:

The heated air needs to be quite warm (at least 130 degrees) to make the heated space feel comfortable

For the same heat output, it takes more electrical power to circulate air compared to water

It is difficult to store heated air compared to heated water

Solar space heating systems using hot water need to be designed so they will work at the lowest possible operating temperature. For this reason, we only design solar space heating systems to work in conjunction with hydronic radiant floor heating systems. For more details on solar space heating design, please look over the schematic of a typical system. We can work with you to design a custom heating system for your new home or remodeling project. Please contact us for a custom heating system quotation.