Solar energy heating is the process of heating a home or other structure with heat from the sun. The world’s supply of fossil fuels such as heating oil and natural gas, which have traditionally provided radiant energy for homes and other structures, may be depleted. Because they emit polluting greenhouse gases, such fuels are not environmentally friendly. Heating a three- or four-bedroom home with fossil fuel energy can be quite costly. Many organizations and agencies, including governments, have advocated for the installation of solar energy heating systems because solar energy is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly source of heat for homes and businesses.
Solar energy heating systems are generally inexpensive. The federal government of the United States offers tax breaks to homeowners and business owners who install them. Under normal circumstances, tax breaks typically offset the upfront costs of installing a solar heating system, as well as the ongoing maintenance costs associated with it, over time. A solar energy heating system, on average, requires less than 20 hours of maintenance per year, and in some cases, as little as 10 hours. Many solar panel collectors come with a 10-year warranty and have the potential to last much longer.
Solar energy has an infinite and unrestricted supply because it comes directly from the sun. Collectors are built into solar panels that are installed on the ground or on rooftops. Heat is transferred to where it is needed in active solar heating systems using fluid or air. Passive solar energy heating systems, in which many of the building’s surfaces are designed to collect and store heat, do not require any mechanical equipment. Anyone considering installing a solar energy heating system should check the local building codes and zoning ordinances to ensure that any system installed complies with applicable regulations.
There are some disadvantages to using solar energy for heating. The sun’s rays, for example, may not be intense enough to produce enough heat to warm up an area or body of water, especially after dark. As a result, a homeowner may be inconvenienced by having to rely on a more expensive, polluting type of system as a backup. On days or nights when sunlight is scarce, many homeowners who have installed solar energy heating systems prefer to burn fireplace wood, which is more environmentally friendly.