Retrofitting a solar space heating system

Adding (retrofitting) a solar space heating system to your home is one way to combat increasing energy costs and to raise your home's market value. The two major types of solar retrofits are active systems (requiring mechanical energy and hardware such as pumps and fans to distribute heat) and passive systems (which depend on the natural circulation of a fluid for heat movement). If the sun shines on your home for most of the day in the winter, it is a potential candidate for a solar heating retrofit. The following is a discussion of issues, options, and factors to consider when investigating any solar retrofit.

Heating Potential, Costs, and Benefits

A solar heating system designed to provide all of your space heating requirements will be very expensive, and in many cases impractical. Solar space heating systems are usually designed to provide 30% to 80% of heating, depending on your geographical location, the system type, and its size. Costs vary widely depending on the type and size of the system and whether the solar system can be efficiently integrated into the existing heating system.

Solar air space heaters, which act as a supplemental heat source for one room or a small area of the house, are the least expensive and simplest to install. Since collector sizes vary, so do prices.

Solar space heating systems may be cost-effective, but you must carefully evaluate the claimed cost savings of the system during the heating season only, against the price and anticipated longevity of the system.

Climate plays a major role in system design and cost. Active solar space heating systems are most economical in climates that have extended heating seasons with many sunny days and/or with high utility rates. They are less cost-effective areas with cloudy conditions during the winter, such as the coastal Northwest, in areas with short heating seasons, such as Southern California and Florida, or in any area with low prices for electricity and other heating fuels.

Passive solar heating systems work best in areas where there is a fairly large difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures. However, whether or not you should proceed with a specific passive retrofit depends more on your home's structure than the climate.

Besides heating energy cost savings, a solar heating system will reduce the amount of pollution and greenhouse gases that are emitted to the atmosphere to heat your home.

Efficiency First

Taking steps to ensure that your home is energy-efficient increases the effectiveness of any heating system. Inadequate insulation is a leading cause of energy waste in most homes. Insulating your home to recommended levels may allow you to reduce the size of both your heating and cooling systems, thereby reducing heating and cooling costs; or reduce the cost of operating your existing systems. Other energy saving measures include caulking the building joints and plumbing penetrations into the attic, weather stripping around windows and doors, adding storm doors and double- or triple-glazed windows, and insulating the hot water tank and pipes.

Legal Issues

Local covenants, zoning ordinances, and building codes may restrict or not even allow the installation of a solar system on your property, especially in areas with homeowners associations or designated historical districts. Research these issues before you invest any additional time and money in a solar system.

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